Major depression is the second cause of illness-induced disability
worldwide [1]. Mood impairment, lack of interest with anhedonia, and
reduced energy are the essential symptoms of this disease. Several
models concerning either cognitive psychology or biological psychiatry
have been considered so as to explain related psychopathology
and pathophysiology substrates. Various studies have investigated the
association between depression and pain, and some evidence of cooccurrence
has already been provided [2–4]. The incidence of recurrent
major depression among chronic pain patients ranges from 30 to 54%
[5]. In these patients, depression is associated with higher pain intensity
[6,7], greater painful sites, andmajor pain-related disability [8,9]. Moreover,
pain may be indicative of a risk factor for recurrent mood disorders
and disability [10]. Brain structures involved in mood disorders and pain
feelings may share common activity related to emotional, affective and
cognitive processes. They represent a wide brain network. Although
neurophysiological investigations of pain thresholds among depressed
patients have already been performed, results are still contradictory
and conclusions are lacking [11]. Therefore, we decided to conduct a
case–control neurophysiological study to better define the tactile, pain
and tolerance thresholds in patients with major depression. Hence we
compared the tactile, pain and tolerance thresholds obtained using a
standardised electrical stimulation [12] in patients with major depression
without spontaneous pain and in healthy subjects.
were significantly lower in patients (p b 0.05).