"Right now, we have effective psychological treatments for depression and anxiety, and effective psychological treatments for chronic pain, but these treatments are often siloed,” said first author of the study, Rachel Aaron, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in a press release.
“In fact, many studies exclude people with chronic pain who have depression or anxiety from clinical trials. We need integrated treatments that address chronic pain and mental health together,” she continued.
In the current study, researchers analyzed 376 studies including 347, 468 individuals with chronic pain from 50 countries. Patients were an average age of 51 years old and 70% were female. Seven depression and anxiety disorder symptoms were examined.
Ultimately, 40% of patients had clinical symptoms of anxiety, and 39% had clinical symptoms of depression. Rates of diagnoses were lower, with 37% diagnosed with major depressive disorder, 17% with general anxiety disorder, 8% with panic disorder, 6% with persistent depressive disorder, and 2% with social anxiety disorder.
The researchers noted that women, younger people, and those with nociplastic pain were most likely to have depression and anxiety.
The findings highlight the need for targeted treatments to address co-occurring chronic pain, depression, and anxiety, wrote the researchers in their study. They further noted that systematic screening for depression and anxiety in clinical settings where chronic pain is treated is crucial.
“Offering equitable access to care and representation in clinical trials, as well as innovative treatment targeting chronic pain and co-occurring depression and anxiety, is essential to promote positive outcomes for adults with chronic pain,” concluded the researchers in their study.
Sources: JAMA Network Open, Science Daily