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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 54. No. 3., 2015.

Original scientific paper

Co-Occurrence of Chronic Head, Face and Neck Pain, and Depression in War Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Miranda Muhvić-Urek ; Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Željka Vukšić ; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, Osijek, Croatia
Sunčana Simonić-Kocijan ; Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Vedrana Braut ; Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Alen Braut ; Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Ivone Uhač ; Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

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Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between chronic head, face and neck pain, and the level of depression in Croatian war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The presence of self-reported pain, pain on digital palpation, and pain severity in masticatory and neck muscles, temporomandibular joints and sinuses, as well as the level of depression were assessed in a group of war veterans with PTSD (n=52). Control groups consisted of war veterans without PTSD (n=50) and healthy men that were not engaged in war actions and were free from PTSD (n=50). The number of self-reported pain and number of painful sites were correlated with the level of depression. More self-reported pain and painful sites were recorded in the group of war veterans with PTSD as compared with either war veterans without PTSD or healthy men. Furthermore, PTSD patients mostly suffered from severe depression. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between all investigated pain parameters and level of depression. As the most important finding, the present study demonstrated chronic head, face and neck pain to be related to depression in PTSD patients.

Keywords

Chronic pain; Stress disorders, post-traumatic; Depression; Veterans

Hrčak ID:

148825

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/148825

Publication date:

1.11.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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