Comparing the co morbidity of psychological disorder among women and men with chronic musculoskeletal pain

Introduction: Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for referring to elderly medical centers. About 20 -25 percent of patients with chronic pain experience significant psychological symptoms. The current study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain referred to pain clinic of Imam Hossein hospital. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 158 patients referred to pain clinical of the hospital were randomly selected. Outcomes were assessed via Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). The collected data were analyzed by using t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The findings showed that the prevalence of depression, anxiety and pain catastrophizing was 27.2%, 68.9% and 84%. There was a significant difference between men and women in depression, and in pain catastrophizing. Moreover, there was significant difference in anxiety between men and women with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Result showed a significant relationship (r=0.73) between depression and pain catastrophizing in patients. Conclusion: According to our results, it seems that, psychological therapy along with medicine therapy is more effective to reduce depression, anxiety and to manage the pain. We recommend that more studies should be done in order to consider the sex difference in psychological and mental disorders to reveal the necessary of multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment of the chronic pain.