Psychological abnormalities in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Abstract

Do comorbid psychological disorders, dysfunctional pain processing, and psychosocial pain coping occur with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and is a connection between clinical and psychological manifestations apparent? In addition to securing information on case histories and performing clinical neurological examinations of chronic CRPS patients, the structured clinical interview (SCID), pain perception scale, and the Kiel Pain Inventory were employed. The structured clinical interview revealed evidence of a depressive episode in 65% of CRPS patients. Pain perception is similar to neuropathic pain syndromes and patient history revealed a slightly increased frequency of anxiety and affective disorders. Depressive syndrome occurred significantly more often in right-sided CRPS; otherwise, there were no significant correlations between medical history, clinical examination, and frequency of psychological disorders. However, CRPS patients with allodynia manifest clinical signs of special psychological distress. In chronic CRPS depressive syndrome frequently develops and psychological treatment can be recommended.