Abstract

CASTRO, Martha M.C.  and  DALTRO, Carla. Sleep patterns and symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain. Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.67, n.1, pp. 25-28. ISSN 0004-282X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2009000100007.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances and symptoms of anxiety and depression have been shown to be involved in the genesis and perpetuation of chronic pain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sleep patterns and the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain. METHOD: Four hundred consecutive patients referred to a chronic pain outpatient clinic were investigated using patient charts, the numerical Visual Analogue Scale for the evaluation of pain, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 45.6±11.4 years. The most frequent medical diagnosis was myofascial pain followed by neuropathic pain. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety was 72.8%, depression 93% and altered sleep patterns 93%. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety and alterations in sleep patterns in patients with chronic pain, justifying investigation into these disturbances in this group of patients.

Keywords : chronic pain; sleep; depression; anxiety.