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Pan Afr Med J. 2016 May 27;24:89. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2016.24.89.8831. eCollection 2016.

Chronic neck pain and anxiety-depression: prevalence and

associated risk factors

Imane Elbinoune  1 , Bouchra Amine  2 , Siham Shyen  1 , Sanae Gueddari  1 , 

Redouane Abouqal  3 , Najia Hajjaj‐Hassouni  2

Affiliations expand

PMID: 27642428
PMCID: PMC5012832
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2016.24.89.8831
Free PMC article

Full text links Cite …

Abstract
Introduction: Chronic pain in rheumatology often has a psychic impact, which may aggravate
the daily life of patients. Chronic neck pain, as an example, is a frequent reason for consultation.
The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with neck
pain, and identify risk factors associated with their occurrence.

Methods: It was a cross‐sectional study that concerned 80 patients with neck pain lasting for
more than 3 months, seen in rheumatology consultations. All patients with symptomatic neck
pain or psychological history or receiving psychotropic medication were excluded from the
study. For each patient, we determined the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical ones.
The anxious and depressed mood was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
﴾HAD﴿.

Results: Of the 80 patients, 67 ﴾83.8%﴿ were women. Average age of our population was 51.8±
11.8 years. Median duration of symptoms was 24 months [12, 48]. Mean VAS pain was 63.9% ±
12.5, mean VAS functional discomfort was 60.9% ± 14.2 and mean VAS disability was 59.8% ±
14.7. 32 patients ﴾40%﴿ were illiterate and 18 ﴾22.5%﴿ had university level. Anxiety was found in
54 ﴾68.4%﴿ and 44 ﴾55.7%﴿ patients were depressed. In univariate analysis, VAS disability was
statistically linked to anxiety ﴾OR:1.05; 95%CI: 1.01‐1.08; p = 0.02﴿. The cervicobrachial neuralgia
﴾CBN﴿ was significantly associated with depression ﴾OR: 3.33; 95%CI: 1.20‐9.23; p = 0.02﴿. Primary
education level had a statistically significant relationship with anxiety ﴾OR: 6.00; 95%CI: 1.03‐
34.84; p = 0.04﴿ and depression ﴾OR: 5.00; 95%CI: 1.09‐22.82; p = 0.03﴿. In multivariate analysis,
VAS disability and CBN were independently associated with anxiety and depression respectively.

Conclusion: This study underlines the fact that anxiety and depression are prevalent in chronic
neck pain ﴾CNP﴿ patients. Furthermore, disability and CBN which are linked to CNP can predict
which patient is at higher risk of psychological distress.

Keywords: Chronic neck pain; HAD; anxiety; depression.

Figures

Figure 1 Prevalence of
anxiety and depression…

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MeSH terms
Adult
Anxiety / epidemiology*
 Anxiety / etiology
Chronic Pain / psychology*
Cross‐Sectional Studies
Depression / epidemiology*
Depression / etiology
Disability Evaluation
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Neck Pain / psychology*
Pain Measurement
Prevalence
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Risk Factors

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