Background and aims: Basic knowledge about chronic pain conditions in a psychiatric outpatient population is lacking. This unique study evaluated chronic pain in a psychiatric population by a structured clinical examination.
Methods: 151 consecutively recruited patients from psychiatric outpatient units participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study consisting of self-reported questionnaires and a structured physical examination by a doctor and a physiotherapist. Inclusion criteria were having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder and chronic pain. We classified chronic pain with the ICD-10. The psychiatric outpatient units performed the psychiatric assessments pre-participation, also using ICD-10 criteria. 
Results: The sample consisted of 120 females and 31 males, average age was 36. 44% received benefits as work assessment allowance, whilst 15% were working. The most frequent psychiatric disorders were anxiety disorders 29%, PTSD 21% and mood disorders 21%. 
A total of 42% met criteria for chronic widespread pain (ACR 1990), and 34% met criteria for M79.7 fibromyalgia (ACR 1990). Fibromyalgia was significantly higher in females than males (p=.002). The most frequent local pain diagnoses were M54.5 “low back pain” and M54.2 “cervicalgia”. Headache was reported by 79% and 21% met criteria for irritable bowel syndrome.
Conclusions: These investigations of chronic pain give unique information in terms of clinical and detailed data on the pain condition; the type, severity and functional limitations caused by pain. This is essential in gaining a better understanding of chronic pain in psychiatric disorder and towards developing efficient health care services and management programs both in primary and secondary healthcare services.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF CHRONIC PAIN CONDITIONS IN A PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT POPULATION