Depression symptoms and chronic pain in the community population in Beijing, China

We explore the association of depressive symptoms and chronic pain (arthritis, back or neck pain, headache, or other pain) in a community population of Beijing, China. Two thousand four hundred and sixty nine residents aged 16 years and older were investigated in 2010. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-3rd version. The presence of chronic pain condition and depressive symptoms were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis methods. We found a 12-month prevalence of MDD (Major depressive disorder) at 3.28%. Nearly half (41.01%) of respondents with depressive symptoms also had at least one chronic pain condition, and 64.20% of subjects with MDD (Major depressive disorder) experienced at least one chronic pain. After adjusting for selected demographic variables, it was found by multivariate logistic regression analysis that depressive symptom without MDD was significantly associated with back-or neck pain (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.97, 95% CI, 1.34–2.90), headache (AOR=3.17, 95% CI, 1.81–5.58), and other chronic pain (AOR=2.21, 95% CI, 1.07–4.49). MDD was significantly associated with arthritis (AOR=2.23) back or neck pain (AOR=4.17), headache (AOR=3.16), and other chronic pain (AOR=3.51). Multiple types of chronic pain are associated with depressive symptoms and MDD. Future studies are needed to infer causality.