Psychiatric symptoms and distress differ between patients with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral vestibular disease

Objective: No previous studies have investigated the psychiatric characteri stics of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Similarly, no studies have been performed on patients with different chronic somatic symptoms due to a defined medical disease to compare the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity associated with each etiology. Methods: After completing the sub scales of the Symptom Checklist 90-R, a psychiatrist administered the Diagn ostic Interview Schedule to all subjects. The psychiatric comorbidity in 35 patients with pain due to PHN was compared with a control group of 34 pati ents with the nonpainful aversive symptom of vertigo due to a peripheral ve stibular disorder that caused unilateral hypofunction. Results: PHN patient s had significantly more symptoms of major depression and somatization diso rder. No significant differences were found between groups for psychiatric diagnoses. Patients with PHN reported significantly less acutely distressin g somatic symptoms. Conclusion: These results suggest that the psychiatric symptoms of patients with PHN are distinct from nonspecific acute distress and may be related to the experience of suffering from chronic neuropathic pain. Patients with PHN may not meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, but their psychiatric comorbidity places them at substantial risk for incre ased pain, suicidal ideation, sustained disability, and the numerous compli cations of excessive medical evaluation and treatment. Patients with PHN sh ould be evaluated specifically for psychiatric symptoms to reduce potential negative consequences through appropriate treatment. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Inc. All rights reserved.