UNEXPLAINED PAIN IS DEPRESSION MASKED

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), March 5 (Bernama) -- No pain, no gain. This may be
the oft-quoted mantra of fitness buffs.

However, unexplained pain can be a strong indicator of depression, says
Asean Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health (AFPMH) president Professor Dr
Mohamad Hussain Habil.

He said only 10 per cent of patients seeking treatment for unexplained pain
in the country received adequate treatment while the rest sunk into depression
due to under-diagnosis.

"Many people do not realise that unexplained pain is often linked to
depression," said Mohamad, who is also head of the department of psychological
medicine at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

He said depression resulted in unnecessary suffering and leads to serious
disability and spiralling health care costs.

"Quality of life diminishes as the patient retreats and suicide becomes an
option," he said.

Mohamad Hussain was presenting a paper, 'Consequences of Not Diagnosing
Depression on the Community' at the First Malaysian Pain and Depression Day
media workshop here Wednesday.

"Research revealed that 82 per cent of depressed patients who sought
treatment from primary care practitioners were left untreated while 18 per cent
received anti-depressents.

"Of the total, only 10 per cent were adequately treated," noted Dr Mohamad
Hussain.

At the same workshop, Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Yen
Teck Hoe said depression symptoms included loss of interest or pleasure in
activities such as hobbies or sex, feeling unusually sad or irritable, sleep
disturbances, poor concentration, feelings of guilt and worthlessness,
restlessness or slowed activity and suicidal thoughts.

"Depression does not discriminate, anyone can suffer from depression
regardless of age, gender, or race," he said.

Meanwhile, UMMC Department of Psychological Medicine Consultant
Psychiatrist Professor Dr Nor Zuraida Zainal said, while depression was
prevalent in patients with chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, stroke,
and Parkinson Disease, it could also worsen the outcome of their associated
health condition.

"Pain causes depression and depression causes pain. Chronic illness is
stressful enough, so it is not surprising that the pain affects a patient's
psychological well-being, resulting in depression," she said.
-- BERNAMA