Gabapentin leads to remission of somatoform pain disorder with major depression

Gabapentin, a novel antiepileptic drug, is effective in the treatment of pa rtial seizures with and without secondary generalization. Evidence suggests that it may have mood-stabilizing and possibly antidepressant properties i n bipolar depression. We report on a 48-year-old woman who had recurrent ma jor depressive disorder. Following inguinal herniorrhaphy, she developed se vere stabbing pain in the lower abdomen and inguinal area that progressed t o constant pain in her whole body. She was depressive, hopeless, and had gi ven up her social activities. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder and somatoform pain disorder was made. Antidepressants and carbamazepine were i neffective, and she had attempted suicide. Gabapentin resulted in remission of both the pain and the depressive mood at a dose of 1.800 mg/day.