Pain, Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Cervical Miyofascial Pain Syndrome

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of depression, pain and disability in patients with chronic cervical miyofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and to determine their association with quality of life. Material and Method: Forty patients with Cervical MPS and 40 age and sex-matched healthy controls enrolled in this study. The social and demographic characteristics of the patients and controls were examined. All patients and controls were evaluated with respect to pain (at night, rest and movement) and assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). Neck disability index (NDI) was used to calculate functional disability. Quality of life was evaluated with the the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Also all of the patients and controls underwent Beck depression inventory (BDI). Results: There was no statistical difference between the patients and control cases according to demographical data. The SF-36 scores of the study patients were lower than controls. NDI, BDI and VAS scores were higher in the patients with chronic cervical MPS compared to controls. BDI scores of the patients with chronic cervical MPS were negatively and closely associated with subparameters of the SF-36 (physical function (r:-0,599, p<0.001), role limitations due to physical functioning (r:-0,558, p<0.001), bodily pain (r:-0.540, p<0.001), general health (r:-0,708 p<0.001), vitality (r:-0,692, p<0.001), social functioning (r:-0,559, p<0.001), role limitations due to emotional problems (r:-0,537, p<0.001) and mental health (r: -0,787, p<0.001). Discussion: BDI scores are higher in patients with chronic cervical MPS than healthy controls and negatively affect their quality of life. Psychiatric evaluation of the patients with chronic cervical MPS may improve their quality of life and treatments outcome.