The frequency and severity of symptoms of major depression in Chinese patients with chronic, medically unexplained, painful physical symptoms who present to a general neurology clinic

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional, non-interventional, observational study evaluated depression in patients in China who presented to a general neurologist with chronic, medically unexplained, painful physical symptoms. Of the 402 patients enrolled, 197 patients (49.0%) met the criteria for a current major depressive episode (MDE+ group), as assessed using module A of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and 205 patients (51.0%) did not (MDE- group). The mean pain severity visual analogue scale (VAS) score was signifi cantly higher in the MDE+ group than the MDE- group (65.3 vs 55.6 mm; p<0.001). The mean depression severity score, as assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), was 8.4 units (95% CI: 7.3 to 9.5) higher in the MDE+ group than the MDE- group (mean PHQ-9 total score: 14.8 vs 6.4). Anxiety and perceived health state were signifi cantly worse, on average, in the MDE+ group (mean Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety subscale score 10.7 vs 5.9 units; mean EuroQoL-5 Dimensions VAS score 56.4 vs 67.7 mm; each p<0.001). Only 14.2% of patients had received treatment for depression during the past 3 months. These results suggest depression was common and may have been under-treated in this group of Chinese patients with chronic, medically unexplained painful physical symptoms.