Bilateral relationship between pain and depression: implications for therapeutics

There is growing evidence indicating that there is very complex bilateral relationship exists between pain syndromes and depression. During depressive episode it is often that patients suffer from unexplained physical and somatic painful symptoms such headaches and back pain. It is also possible that such painful symptoms may be the initial expression of depressive episode. It is also well documented that painful syndromes can lead to depression. This presentation will discuss this complex relationship between pain and depression with implications to therapeutic options.