Therapist Unlimited Blog

According to a recent study, those people who are depressed have higher tendencies of suffering from chronic pain.
Based on the study conducted by the Wayne State University they found out that the incidence of chronic pain, defined as pain persisting for six months, was 22 percent.
The researchers revealed approximately 35 percent of those with chronic pain had depression, but mood problems were not associated with a particular pain condition or pain site.
The researchers gathered their data on 1,100 Michican residents who volunteered to take part of the study.
The team studied several demographic factors and found that older age was generally related to chronic pain but with comorbid depression.
They noted that depression tends to decrease with age while pain tends to increase.
Evaluating the data they gathered, the researchers concluded that in middle-age women chronic pain might not be the cause of depression but pre-existing mood problems could be associated with development of chronic pain. They further concluded that depression could increase vulnerability to experiencing persistent pain.

People should avoid depression since such a condition could lead to chronic pain.

Moreover, the researchers believe the study also showed that African Americans were more likely to have chronic pain with depression than Caucasians.
The group revealed further analysis showed that racial differences were not attributable to possible socioeconomic factors but might be associated with differences in the use of pain coping strategies.
They believe though income was not a significant risk factor for the study, the authors indicated that occupational factors, such as physically demanding work and poor or no health insurance coverage, may account for the link between lower socioeconomic status and pain, and that financial strain and stress are closely linked with depression.
From the data they discovered, the authors recommend that clinicians screen pain patients for depression and pay close attention to middle-age women and African Americans for whom risk for comorbid depression is the highest.