Depression, pain, and pain behavior.

Examined the degree to which depression predicted pain and pain behavior by administering the Beck Depression Inventory to 114 male and 93 female low back pain patients (mean age 41.6 yrs). Observations of pain behaviors during physical examination, ratings of pain, and measures of activity level and medication intake were taken on each S. Regression analyses revealed that depression and physical findings were the most important predictors of pain and pain behavior. Although the proportion of variance attributed to depression was modest, it was significant even after controlling for demographic and medical status variables. Ratings of pain severity and use of sedatives/hypnotics were higher among females than males, and depressed Ss were more likely than others to be taking narcotic medications. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)