RT - Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache ID - 10.11607/jofph.2024 T1 - Comorbidity Between Facial Pain, Widespread Pain, and Depressive Symptoms in Young Adults A1 - Kirsi Sipilä A1 - Pekka V. Ylöstalo A1 - Matti Joukamaa A1 - Matti L. Knuuttila K1 - facial pain; depression; widespread pain YR - 2006 SP - 24 AB -

Aims: To assess, firstly, the prevalence of facial pain associated with widespread pain and the prevalence of high levels of depres-sive symptoms (ie, “depressiveness”) among subjects with this pain condition, and secondly, the association between depressive-ness and a facial pain condition. Methods: This study forms part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort study. The original material consisted of all people whose expected birthdate was in 1966 in Northern Finland. Of these, 5,696 participated in a follow-up study at the age of 31. As part of it, data on facial pain, pain in other areas of the body, depressiveness (measured using the Symptom Checklist-25 depression subscale) and sociodemographic background data were gathered using questionnaires. Prevalence proportion ratios were estimated using log-binomial regression models. Results: Facial pain and simultaneous widespread pain were reported by 8.3% of the subjects (6.6% of men and 9.9% of women), and 27.4% of those with widespread pain were depres-sive. Comorbidity between facial pain, widespread pain, and depressiveness was found to be particularly prevalent among women. Conclusion: Comorbidity should be taken into account in clinical practice. A multidisciplinary approach is needed, especially for patients with complex pain conditions.