Depression and Pain: Independent and Additive Relationships to Anger Expression.

摘要

Anger and anger expression are concerns in the military population. These constructs have been linked to stress dysregulation, heart disease, and poor coping behaviors such as substance abuse. Predisposing factors leading to anger expression are understudied. This study was designed to examine the independent and additive relationships of depression and pain to anger expression (ANGX) in a large sample of military veterans. Subjects (N=474) completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, a measure of average pain experienced across the last 4 weeks, and a measure of ANGX. A multiple regression model assessed the independent and additive relationships of depression and pain to ANGX. Subjects endorsed relatively high levels of depression (mean = 15.3 of possible 60), low moderate levels of pain (mean = 6.3 of possible 20), and somewhat frequent episodes of ANGX. As expected, depression and pain were positively associated (r=0.42, p less than 0 .001) and cross-over effects of antidepressant and pain medication were shown. Specifically, frequency of antidepressant medication use was inversely associated with both depressive symptoms (r= - 0.34, p less than 0.001) and pain symptoms (r= - 0.20, p less than 0 . 001). Likewise, frequency of pain medication use was inversely linked to both pain symptoms (r= - 0.42, p less than 0.001) and depressive symptoms (r = - 0.21, p less than 0.001). In a multiple regression model, depression (Beta=0.58, p less than 0.001) and pain (Beta =0.21, p less than .05) demonstrated independent and additive relationships to ANGX (F=41.5, p less than 0.001, R(exp2) adj = 0.31). This study not only offers empirical support for depression pain comorbidity, but it also elucidates independent and additive contributions of depression and pain to ANGX.