CHRONIC PAIN and DEPRESSION are co-morbid conditions. It means that they are linked to each other. Many of Chronic Pain patients complain of Depression and many of Depressed patients suffer from some sort of Chronic pain. In many cases Depression can be secondary to Chronic Pain because of the effects Chronic pain had on one’s life. If a pain patient is not able to work and have financial problems as a result, if they can’t contribute to the family or social life, if they can’t continue any leisure activities they used to do, if they don’t have proper sleep and enough energy, then there is no surprise if Depression sets in. On the other hand many pain patients would feel the pain more when their mood is down. Depression augments or magnifies the pain symptoms. In reality we find Chronic pain and Depression very commonly together. The term CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROME is made to describe this link. Chronic Pain Syndrome is the sum of Physical and Psychological symptoms of a Chronic Pain patient. Because of this link between Chronic Pain and Depression it is important that any treatment or management plan also be directed to manage these conditions together to be effective. These efforts should not be limited to medications that work on both conditions, like anti-depressants, but it should be expanded to Cognitive and Behavioral treatments along with patient educations. Comprehensive and multi-disciplinary pain management programs are shown to be more effective than using only one modality. After understanding this link between Depression and Chronic pain, multi-disciplinary approach to pain management makes more sense.Chronic Pain and Depression
CHRONIC PAIN and DEPRESSION are co-morbid conditions. It means that they are linked to each other. Many of Chronic Pain patients complain of Depression and many of Depressed patients suffer from some sort of Chronic pain. In many cases Depression can be secondary to Chronic Pain because of the effects Chronic pain had on one’s life. If a pain patient is not able to work and have financial problems as a result, if they can’t contribute to the family or social life, if they can’t continue any leisure activities they used to do, if they don’t have proper sleep and enough energy, then there is no surprise if Depression sets in. On the other hand many pain patients would feel the pain more when their mood is down. Depression augments or magnifies the pain symptoms. In reality we find Chronic pain and Depression very commonly together. The term CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROME is made to describe this link. Chronic Pain Syndrome is the sum of Physical and Psychological symptoms of a Chronic Pain patient. Because of this link between Chronic Pain and Depression it is important that any treatment or management plan also be directed to manage these conditions together to be effective. These efforts should not be limited to medications that work on both conditions, like anti-depressants, but it should be expanded to Cognitive and Behavioral treatments along with patient educations. Comprehensive and multi-disciplinary pain management programs are shown to be more effective than using only one modality. After understanding this link between Depression and Chronic pain, multi-disciplinary approach to pain management makes more sense.
