Studies have shown that somatic pain influences the severity of major depressive disorder (MDD), and could be moderated through pain coping strategies and not catastrophizing to pain.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the correlation between pain coping strategies, catastrophizing to pain and severity of depression.

The study sample consisted of 82 patients diagnosed with MDD, aged between 18 and 65 years old (M = 46.21). Assessment instruments included The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), The Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form-BPISF (consisting of two subscales: BPI1-intensity of pain, and BPI2-interference with daily functioning), The Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory-VPMI (consisting of active-VPMIAC and passive pain coping mechanism subscales-VPMIPC) and The Pain Catastrophizing Scale-PCS (consisting of subscales of rumination, exaggeration and helplessness).

The average BDI-II score was 27.21 (SD = 11.53); the average score at BPI1 was 2.99 (SD = 2.83) and 3.35 (SD = 3.26) at BPI2; the average scores on the active coping mechanism subscale was 20.72 (SD = 4.87), and on the passive coping mechanism subscale 34.05 (SD = 7.86); the average catastrophizing scale score was 28.78 (SD = 10.72). Active mechanism of pain coping has shown significant negative correlation with depression (r = –0.227, P > 0.05) while passive mechanism of pain coping has shown significant positive correlation with depression (r = 0.269, P > 0.05). Intensity of depression was significantly positively correlated with intensity of catastrophizing to pain (r = 0.358, P > 0.01) and its derivatives: rumination, exaggeration and helplessness.

Interventions focusing on targeting catastrophizing to pain and pain coping mechanisms should be considered in the treatment of patients with MDD with somatic pain.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.