Health and Pain Mind

Pain and depression are inexorably linked in a complex way. Pain causes depression—depression causes pain. About 30% of patients with persistent pain conditions suffer from clinical depression related to their pain, and almost all persons will experience some mood changes. 75% of patients with clinical depression present to their doctors because of physical symptoms, including pain.1 People in pain who have symptoms of depression experience more impairment associated with pain than those who do not have depressive symptoms.2

To successfully treat your chronic pain, you and your physician need to examine the emotional factors that may influence your pain level and physical disability. One of the first steps to treating pain is recognizing that depression often accompanies pain and that increases in pain or widespread pain (ie, pain in many areas of your body) can be a symptom of depression. Understanding this aspect of your pain experience may help you identify your own symptoms and seek the care you need to lessen your pain.