Depression as a psychopathological disorder in chronic low back pain patients.

An association between chronic pain and depression has been recognised for a long time. However, the exact nature of this association remains unclear. The authors studied 80 consecutive patients with chronic low back pain. Different types of depression were diagnosed using Research Diagnostic Criteria. The relationship between different types of depression and clinical and demographic variables are presented. Beck Depression Inventory and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale were used in an attempt to discriminate between the different types of depression.