Depression masquerading as diabetic neuropathy.

Abstract

Fifty-nine patients referred for painful diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities were evaluated for depression and response to antidepressant drug therapy in a double-blind controlled study. All patients were found to have substantial degrees of depression during psychiatric interview and by Kupfer-Detre test scores (8.1 +/- 0.6, as compared with control values of 4.0 to 4.3 +/- 0.2). Treatment with imipramine hydrochloride or amitriptyline hydrochloride resulted in complete remission of lower extremity pains in all patients in 10 +/- 2 weeks, with concomitant relief of depression and return of depression test scores to 3.8. These results suggest that the syndrome of painful diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities represents a depressive equivalent in a large proportion of cases and that treatment with imipramine or amitriptyline is a successful mode of therapy for such persons.

• Authors: R W Turkington
• Journal: JAMA (JAMA) Vol. 243 Issue 11 Pg. 1147-50 (Mar 21 1980) ISSN: 0098-7484 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6987418 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Insulin

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Depression (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Diabetic Neuropathies (complications, drug therapy)
• Diagnostic Errors
• Female
• Humans
• Insulin (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain (drug therapy)
• Syndrome