Effects of Depression and Anxiety on Microvascular Decompression Outcome for Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients

OBJECTIVE: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common cranial nerve disease. Meanwhile, it is suggested in some studies that orofacial pain can also lead to some psychological diseases. Therefore, the current study was carried out aiming to explore the relationship between depression as well as anxiety and TN; at the same time, the effect on the postoperative outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) would also be explored. METHODS: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores, as well as the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) scores in TN cases were compared with those among patients without TN. Multiple logistic regression models were also used to assess the associations of HDRS and HARS scores with TN. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the MVD outcome in TN patients, and the HDRS and HARS scores were between pain-free patients and those who still suffered from pain. RESULTS: The HDRS and HARS scores in TN patients were evidently increased relative to those observed in normal individuals. HDRS and HARS scores were found to be positively associated with the Visual Analog Scale pain score and onset duration in TN patients. Additionally, remarkably higher HDRS and HARS scores were observed in the persistent pain group than in pain-free group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study reveal that depression and anxiety are closely associated with the incidence of TN, which may also affect the outcome of patients undergoing MVD.