SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN

Socio-demographic con-elates of chronic pain have been described in this study. 200 consecutive chronic pain patients referred from different clinics were examined in detail and their clinical description were recorded. No significant correlation could be established between qualitative description of pain and socio-demographic variables. Pain reported by rural patients was more often severe (P < .01) as compared to the urban patients. Patients diagnosed as neurotic depression were found to be from older age groups, married and matriculates. Thus pain appears to be universal in its distribution and has no preferential predilection to any demographic group.