Pain, especially chronic pain, is an emotional condition as well as a physical sensation. It is a complex experience that affects thought, mood, and behavior and can lead to isolation, immobility, and drug dependence.

Pain is depressing, and depression causes and intensifies pain. People with chronic pain have three times the average risk of developing psychiatric symptoms — usually mood or anxiety disorders — and depressed patients have three times the average risk of developing chronic pain.

The distinct and complex character of any somatic disorder reveals the importance of social and cultural influences and that of the psychological and behavioral dimensions of pain.

The objective of the first study is to prove the high frequency of a depressive syndrome on a significant group of patients with general medical conditions. The second study attempts to prove the efficiency of antidepressive medication (SSRI like) in reducing the pain related symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Evaluation Scale on a significant group of patients from the “Socola” Hospital in Iasi.

The findings of the two studies have a common point: the urge to include in the assessment and management protocols of any somatic disorders, pain and depression diagnostic and treatment elements, due to their algorithmic relationship.

The antidepressive therapy proves its efficiency in the pain syndrome due to the analgesic properties which are not related to the timoanaleptic effect.