Second-Year Follow-up Study on Systematic Treatment of Chronic Pain with Antidepressants

Authors

Dietrich Blumer
Mary Heilbronn

Abstract

Systematic therapy with antidepressant drugs can be an effective treatment for chronic pain patients with the pain-prone disorder. This survey follows the pain status, medications, depressive symptoms, work status, and treatment of 104 patients treated for chronic pain at Henry Ford Hospital's Pain Clinic during a two-year period for chronic pain in the absence of a significant somatic disorder. No patients were excluded from treatment and the dropout rate of 64% after two years was not surprising. The pain of those who complied with therapy improved significantly (62%), compared to that of the patients who had dropped out of the treatment program (13%). However, depressive symptoms and work disability tended to persist in the majority, and antidepressant therapy frequently had to be continued.

Recommended Citation

Blumer, Dietrich and Heilbronn, Mary (1981) "Second-Year Follow-up Study on Systematic Treatment of Chronic Pain with Antidepressants," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 29 : No. 2 , 67-68.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol29/iss2/3