Assessment of depression and pain in the general population: a scoping review.

Authors

Kira Schubert, Kathrin Wandscher, Kathrin Jobski, Sonja Sydekum, Carsten Bantel, Falk Hoffmann

Published in

BMC psychiatry. Volume 26. Issue 1. Aug 11, 2026. Epub Aug 11, 2026.

Abstract

Depression and pain, which often overlap, are highly prevalent in the general population. However, the available evidence synthesis on their comorbidity is limited to specific patients. We aimed to give an overview on the assessment of co-occurring depression and pain in the general population focusing on measurements for both disorders.
This scoping review was registered ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DCE3Q ) and received no funding. MEDLINE (via PubMed), PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost) and EMBASE (via Elsevier) were searched from inception to 10th of December 2024. Cross-sectional and cohort studies with ≥ 100 participants ≥ 14 years, presenting prevalences and/or effect estimates for both depression and pain were included. Data analysis was performed following the principles of Arksey and O´Malley.
We screened 16.916 records and included 60 studies reported in 61 articles, published between 2001 and 2024, of which 42 were cross-sectional and 18 were cohort-studies. Depression was assessed with 19 different measurements, including 17 instruments (most often CES-D, GDS and PHQ), and 2 question based measures. Pain was assessed with 20 different measurements, including 17 instruments (most often VAS, BPI and FPS-R), and 3 question-based measures. The reported comorbid prevalence varied: pain by depression 6.8-87% (median: 50.2%; n = 12) and depression by pain 11-84.5% (median: 46.5%; n = 14).
Depression and pain show high mutual comorbidity in the general population (about 50%), but measurements in the literature were heterogenous in terms of versions, cut-offs, definitions or assessed characteristics. In patients with either depression or pain, we propose a standardized initial assessment also considering the multidimensionality of pain.
Not applicable.

PMID:
42595984
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Aug 2026.

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