Chronic pain, depression, and the dexamethasone suppression test.

In most healthy individuals, dexamethasone suppresses adrenal cortisol production. However, in patients with major depression, non-suppression frequently occurs and thus may be a marker for depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship of dexamethasone suppression test (DST) non-suppression to clinical variables such as major depression, site and duration of pain, prior surgery, and medication use in 81 chronic pain patients beginning inpatient pain treatment (Inpt.

The effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of coexisting pain and depression.

A group of moderately to severely depressed individuals with moderate anxiety were studied to determine the frequency and nature of pain complaints and their response to doxepin. It was discovered that 100% of these subjects had chronic pain complaints, most of which paralleled the course of depression. Headache was most commonly noted.