to describe the impact of pain on quality of life (QoL) in patients with depression

FINDER was a 6-month, european observational study to assess outcomes of QoL (SF36, EQ-5D), depression and anxiety (HADS), somatic (SSI) and pain (VAS) in a clinically diagnosed population initiating antidepressants.

606 patients enrolled in France by 57 psychiatrists and 46 general practitioners were 45.6±13.0 years old, 69% female and 39% have had a previous episode in the last 2 years. According to the patient rated HADS score greater than 11, 75% of patients were classified as cases for depression and 84% as cases for anxiety. 51% of patients rated their overall pain severity (based on VAS cut-off of 30) as moderate/severe, with 65% of them reporting no medical explanation for their pain.

During the 6-month follow-up, French patients improved on SF36 physical score (46.8±10.4 to 50.2±8.3) and mental score (20.2±8.6 to 40.5±12.3), EQ-5D Health State Index (0.38±0.28 to 0.75±0.27) and EQ-5D VAS (39.9±20.0 to 71.4±20.3). Patients with moderate/severe pain at baseline and patients defined as cases for depression or anxiety at baseline had poorer QoL scores on SF36 physical score, EQ-5D Health State Index, EQ-5D VAS and HADS both at baseline and over the 6 months of since treatment started.

Over half of French patients of this study experienced pain associated with depression. We observed that patients experiencing a moderate/severe pain at baseline had worse outcomes on QoL and depression response than those with mild or not pain at baseline.