Bilateral complex regional pain syndrome in a woman with major depressive disorder

Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS1) refers to a disorder usually caused by trauma; it is characterized by pain, swelling, limited range of motion, vasomotor instability, skin changes, joint stiffness, and patchy bone demineralization. Most often it occurs after trauma. Other etiologies include myocardial ischemia, cerebrovascular accidents, infection and emotional stress. We report a case of bilateral CRPS1 of the upper extremities in a 52-year-old woman suffering from major depressive disorder. She was complaining about her hands' stiffness and pain. She also reported swelling of both upper extremities and anhydrosis, thickening of the skin and muscle wasting, finger movement limitation, contracture of the digits and trophic skin changes. The diagnosis of CRPS1 was suspected, according to history, physical examination, radiographic changes and bone scintigraphy.