The Link Between Chronic Pain and Depression

As you might imagine, people that suffer constant long-term pain often become depressed. It's depressing to suffer pain all the time and chronic pain can limit one's activities such as work, social and recreational activities and one's ability to care for one's family. That's depressing. In fact, pain affects thought, mood and behavior, just like depression does.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is any ongoing pain. Usually it's pain that lasts longer than you would expect following an initial injury or onset of illness. Chronic pain may be caused by many things including arthritis, migraines, back or neck injuries, fibromyalgia or many other conditions. When someone has chronic pain in one part of his body, neurochemical changes in his body may actually increase his sensitivity to pain, causing him to begin feeling pain in other, seemingly unrelated parts of his body as well.

Pain and Depression

Web MD reports that about 32 million Americans suffer from chronic pain and about half of those people also suffer from depression. In addition, about 65 percent of all people diagnosed with depression also suffer from pain. Unfortunately, people that suffer from both chronic pain and depression do not always get treatment for both conditions. If someone has a medical condition that causes pain and sees a medical doctor, treatment generally focuses on his pain and ignores his emotional needs. If someone suffers from depression and seeks psychiatric treatment, treatment generally focuses on his mental illness and does not address the issue of pain.

Chronic pain and depression are related in some ways biologically and physiologically. For instance, both share some of the same neural pathways in the brain. Both are also transmitted by some of the same neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the brain.

Treating Pain and Depression

People that suffer from both pain and depression should receive treatment for both. In fact, when a person presents for treatment for one of these conditions, health care professionals should assess him for the other since they so often go together.

Doctors often prescribe antidepressants to treat both chronic pain and depression. These drugs work on the neurotransmitters in the brain and since pain and depression both share many of the same neurotransmitters, they can effectively treat both conditions in many people. Of course, doctors also prescribe pain medications when necessary for people with chronic pain and the reduction of pain can improve mood, but sometimes side effects of pain medications create further problems.

Physical activity often improves both mood and pain but many people find it difficult to exercise when they have pain. Working with an exercise physiologist or physical therapist can help them find safe and comfortable ways to increase physical activity and mobility.

Mental health professionals often recommend psychotherapy for people with depression and it can be especially helpful for those suffering from depression along with chronic pain. In therapy, people can learn coping skills to help them deal with limitations caused by their painful medical conditions and practice new ways of dealing with stress and anxiety.

A comprehensive treatment plan will be most effective for people suffering from both depression and chronic pain. Medical doctors, psychiatrists, pain management specialists, physical therapists, psychotherapists and other health care professionals should all work together to determine the best course of treatment and to assess its effectiveness.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain-and-depression/AN01449. Pain and Depression: Is There a Link?

Harvard Medical School. http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Depression_and_pain.htm. Depression and Pain.

Web MD. http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-chronic-pain. Depression and Chronic Pain.