Fishbain David A, Goldberg Myron, Labbe E, Steele Renee, Rosomoff Hubert
University of Miami School of Medicine, Comprehensive Pain and Rehabilitation Center, South Shore Hospital, South Miami Beach, FL 33139 U.S.A.
Pain. 1988 Feb;32(2):197-206. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(88)90068-1.
Two hundred and eighty-three mixed chronic pain patients, consecutive admissions, were diagnostically evaluated as per DSM-III, Axis I, Axis II or personality type psychiatric operational criteria. Controlling for primary organic treatment diagnosis, age and race, statistical comparisons were made between male compensation patients (n = 93) and male non-compensation patients (n = 23) and between female compensation patients (n = 38) and female non-compensation patients (n = 28) for all DSM-III diagnoses. Male compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for these diagnostic groups: conversion disorder (somatosensory type); combined personality disorders; and passive-aggressive personality disorder. Male non-compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for these diagnostic groups: no diagnosis on Axis I; combined personality types; and compulsive personality type. Female compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for conversion disorder (somatosensory) only. Female non-compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for generalized anxiety disorder and combined anxiety syndromes. Compensation chronic pain patients may be at risk for some psychiatric disorders not previously identified: conversion disorder (somatosensory), and personality disorders.