Millions Have Chronic Pain and Mental Health Issues

According to a new study published in the journal PAIN by the University of Arizona Health Sciences, roughly one in every twenty persons in the United States suffers from both chronic pain and anxiety or depression, resulting in functional impairments in daily life.

Prior study has revealed that chronic pain and anxiety or depression symptoms are chemically connected. This is one of the few studies to look at the nationwide prevalence of severe pain in persons with anxiety or depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that millions of people may be suffering from symptoms that impede their capacity to work, conduct daily tasks, and socialize.

“The study’s findings highlight an underappreciated population and health care need – the interdependency between mental health and chronic pain,” said the paper’s lead author Jennifer S. De La Rosa, PhD, director of strategy for the UArizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, which funded the study. ”This work is so exciting because it offers the opportunity to use team-based interdisciplinary approaches to medicine, leveraging what is known across disciplines to meet the needs of these individuals.”

According to the study, “Co-Occurrence of Chronic Pain and Anxiety/Depression Symptoms in U.S. Adults: Prevalence, Functional Impacts, and Opportunities,” roughly 12 million people, or 4.9% of the adult population in the United States, have both chronic pain and anxiety or depression symptoms.

The researchers examined data from 31,997 persons who took part in the National Health Interview Survey, which has been designated as the best single source for severe pain surveillance.

Adults with chronic pain were nearly five times more likely than those without chronic pain to experience anxiety or depression symptoms. Furthermore, the majority (55.6%) of all adults in the United States who experience unrelenting anxiety or depression also have chronic pain.

Furthermore, the impacts of co-occurring anxiety or depression symptoms and chronic pain had a greater unfavorable impact on everyday activities than either disease alone. Nearly 70% of those with co-occurring symptoms experienced limits at work, more than 55% had difficulty participating in social activities, and nearly 44% reported trouble running errands alone.

“I was surprised by the magnitude of the effect with functional limitations,” said De La Rosa, who also is an assistant research professor in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “Across all domains of functional activity in life, we saw an enormous jump among people who are living with both conditions. These are people who are at a high risk for functional limitation, which will disturb their quality of life.”

Future research should look into whether persons receiving pain relief are also receiving mental health care and whether that care is helping to alleviate symptoms.

“When someone is experiencing both chronic pain and anxiety or depression symptoms, achieving positive health outcomes can become more challenging,” said senior author Todd Vanderah, PhD, director of the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, professor and head of the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine – Tucson and BIO5 Institute member. “This study gives us another avenue to explore in our continuing effort to find new ways to treat chronic pain.”

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