Selected problems of the relation between pain-immunity and depression

The paper presents selected problems of the coexistence of chronic pain and depression . It has been assumed that chronic pain and depression make two se parate ailments that often coexist. The phenomenon of the coexistence of physical symptoms (including pain) and depression have been widely popularised. Over 65% of patients with pain ailments suffer from depression that is often undiagnosed. The therapi sts specify this phenomenon as a “closed circle”, as it is not known what the beginning of its appearance was. On one hand, pain often hides the symptoms of depression so effectively that its recognition by a physician seems impossible; on the other, it is known that chronic pain causes continual lowering of mood and depression that increases pain ailments. Moreover, the existence of common neurobiological mechanisms makes depression and pain escalate mutually.