Antidepresivos, dolor y cáncer

Abstract

There is a close relationship between stress, depression, and pain, especially in cancer pa¬tients. As the efficacy of antidepressants in some types of chronic pain is well documented and the prevalence of depression is very high in cancer patients, we will review the main features of chronic pain, chronic pain in can¬cer, and the relationship between pain, can¬cer, and depression. Depression and pain have common pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of most currently available antidepres¬sants. Clinically, the effect of antidepressants on pain and on affective symptoms is indepen¬dent. In terms of efficacy, tricyclic antidepres¬sants tend to work better but their side effect profile favor the use of the new dual reuptake inhibitors as venlafaxine or duloxetine.