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Management of the Depression-Pain Syndrome

Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL, karlthird{at}hotmail.com

Patients often visit their primary care provider hoping to find relief from physical pain. When a physiological origin cannot be identified, one hypothesis suggests depression is responsible for the pain. Depression screening is recommended for those experiencing unexplained pain because the diagnosis may be depression-pain syndrome. A treatment plan using both pharmacologic agents and psychotherapy is suggested; however, these may not fully resolve all symptoms. Providers should be knowledgeable about complementary/alternative therapies. A balanced combination of conventional and complementary/alternative medical services can enhance treatment and provide practical tools to improve the quality of life for a patient with depression-pain syndrome.

Key Words: depression • pain • depression-pain syndrome • complementary therapies

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