Depresión y lumbalgia crónica

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of depression in patients with chronic low back pain using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in patients seen at the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic at the Zacapa Regional Hospital in September and October 2025. METHOD: Descriptive cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with chronic low back pain who present with depression according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and who attend the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic during September and October 2025. RESULTS: The presence of depression in patients with chronic low back pain was 88.1%. The most affected age group was 40–49 years (28.6%), and the most reported occupations were housewife and merchant (21.4% each). The number of patients seen during the study period was 42. The most common cause of chronic low back pain was low back pain with no identifiable cause (64.3%). In terms of severity, mild depression predominated (37.8%). CONCLUSION: Depression is identified in most patients 88.1% with chronic low back pain, which worsens the perception of pain, hinders treatment, and prolongs the patient's suffering.