THE MEETING OF PAIN AND DEPRESSION - COMORBIDITY IN WOMEN

The higher prevalence of depression in women is coupled with a higher prevalence of pain complaints. Growing evidence suggests that the como rbidity of these conditions is also proportionately higher in women th an men. This paper critically reviews the empirical findings relating to gender differences in comorbid pain and depression as well as findi ngs in support of hypothesized etiologic factors that could explain wh y women may be more susceptible than men to comorbidity. The empirical evidence for biogenic, psychogenic, and sociogenic explanatory models is presented, and an integration of these models is proposed as a gui deline to both research and clinical practice. In conclusion, it is ar gued that gender-differentiated treatment strategies are not clinicall y indicated at this time.