Abstract
Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of antidepressant therapy on changes in instrumental activities of dailyliving disability in elderly female patients with musculoskeletal pain in a controlled study comparing active drugs with a placebo. Methods: In an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled outpatient trial, 30 female patients (response rate 90.0%) between 70 and 79 were examined. They all had a history of clinically evident musculoskeletal pain, were afflicted with depressive symptoms, and could independently bathe, walk, dress, and transfer (e.g., from a chair) inside the house. The study was performed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Results: Compared with the placebo-group, significant changes in the CES-D (p<0.01) and IADL (p<0.01) scales were observed after eight weeks in the active drug-treated subjects. Conclusion: Treatment of depressive symptoms may be efficacious in reducing IADL disability in elderly female patients afflicted with musculoskeletal pain.
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Nickel, M.K., Nickel, C., Lahmann, C. et al. Changes in instrumental activities of daily living disability after treatment of depressive symptoms in elderly women with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Aging Clin Exp Res 17, 293–296 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324613
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324613