Inflammation and chronic pelvic pain: a biological trigger for depression in women?

Chronic inflammation, pain and depression are a clinical triad increasingly recognized as co-morbid. Peripheral and central inflammation can alter neuronal activity, thereby contributing to the psycho-emotional and somatic symptoms of depression. Preliminary evidence suggests that mast cells direct the immune pathways mediating this triad.
The present review analyzes current evidence on co-morbidity between depression with peripheral and central inflammation associated with chronic pelvic pain in women. The analysis will briefly focus on key mechanisms of inflammation and role of mast cells as a common denominator of depression and chronic pain. The goal is to offer mental health professionals a biologically oriented contribution in the pathophysiologic reading of co-morbidities between depression and chronic pelvic pain in women.