Chronic pancreatitis, depression and substance use disorders: A not uncommon combination

Cara Yvonne Jeppe; Christopher Paul Szabo; Martin Derrick Smith

doi:10.7196/SAMJ.8885

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Chronic pancreatitis, depression and substance use disorders: A not uncommon combination

Cara Yvonne Jeppe, Christopher Paul Szabo, Martin Derrick Smith

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive and debilitating disease. A potentially important consideration is the relationship between CP, depression and substance use disorders, which seems to be circular and multiplicative. Pain management is a critical component of intervention, and it would seem that in the context of chronic illness this requires a biopsychosocial approach aiming for a tailored intervention that strikes an appropriate therapeutic balance.

Authors' affiliations

Cara Yvonne Jeppe, Hepatopancreatobiliary Unit, Department of Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

Christopher Paul Szabo, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

Martin Derrick Smith, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa