Assessment of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Neck Pain

Aim. To study the correlation of chronic cervical pain syndrome with anxiety and depression. Design. A cross-sectional correlational study. Materials and methods. The clinical study included 100 patients with non-specific reflex pain syndrome in the cervical region aged 18 to 50 years, including 75 women and 25 men. The average age was 33.01 ± 6.88 years. The numerical rating scale (NRS), muscle syndrome index (MSI), index of disability in neck pain, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, questionnaire of central sensitization (CS) of pain were used. Results. In women, the average score on the CS questionnaire was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in men; quality of life disorders were more common in women (p = 0.013). Muscular-tonic syndrome according to the MSI was significantly stronger in women than in men (p = 0.005). Anxiety-depressive syndrome was also more common in women (p < 0.001). A moderate direct correlation was established between anxiety and depression with the intensity of pain syndrome according to the NRS (r = 0.361, r = 0.331, respectively), a moderate direct relationship was established between the severity of anxiety and musculoskeletal syndrome (r = 0.404), while a weak direct relationship was established with depression (r = 0.282). A moderate direct correlation was found between disability and the severity of anxiety (r = 0.397) and a high direct correlation with the severity of depression (r = 0.769). Conclusion. Understanding the importance of the psychosocial pathway of the onset and chronicity of neck pain is of great importance for determining preventive measures, as well as optimal pain management strategies in clinical practice. We emphasize the need for early detection of anxiety and depression as psychological factors associated with chronic neck pain syndrome, with the aim of their timely correction to improve the quality of life of patients. Keywords: neck pain, cervicalgia, anxiety, depression, the quality of life.