A recent review has revealed that young individuals suffering from chronic pain are three times as likely to experience clinical anxiety or depression compared to their peers.
Conducted by researchers at Macquarie University, the study indicates that approximately one-third of children below 18 years old with chronic pain also exhibit symptoms of anxiety disorders, while about one in eight show signs of depressive disorders.
The findings are featured in the latest issue of JAMA Paediatrics and consist of a meta-review encompassing 79 studies that involved nearly 23,000 children and adolescents under 18, including over 12,000 with chronic pain.
The study looked at conditions where pain is the main symptom, like juvenile idiopathic arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as chronic illnesses where pain is a secondary symptom, such as Crohn’s disease and colitis, along with instances where the cause of pain is unidentified.
Dr. Joanne Dudeney, the lead author, is a clinical psychologist and a Macquarie University Research Fellow in the School of Psychological Sciences.
“These findings suggest that we may be failing to address the needs of young people if we ignore associated anxiety and depression when they come in for chronic pain treatment,” she states.
“In my clinical experience, I’ve noticed many young patients with chronic pain also being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but these concurrent psychological conditions weren’t adequately represented in the pain research literature.”
“Most research has focused on pain-related fears, pain anxiety, and catastrophic thinking about pain, revolving around the worry that the pain will persist indefinitely.”
“I identified a significant gap in our understanding because these children displayed typical anxiety and depression symptoms, which hadn’t been widely considered in research aimed at managing chronic pain, thus missing from clinical applications.”
Dr. Dudeney stresses the importance for parents to recognize the common occurrence of anxiety and depression in those experiencing chronic pain, enabling them to seek appropriate assessments for their children.
She also emphasizes the necessity for healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, rheumatologists, and pain specialists, to understand this connection, advocating for a comprehensive approach that tackles pain, anxiety, and depression simultaneously when appropriate.
“One practical suggestion would be for pain specialists to implement a brief screening for anxiety and depression symptoms in young patients,” Dr. Dudeney advises.
“This group is particularly vulnerable, and failing to consider their mental health could hinder us from achieving the desired clinical outcomes.”
Dr. Dudeney and her team are in the process of creating an online program for adolescents dealing with chronic pain, which will be offered through Macquarie University’s eCentreClinic. This program is modeled after an existing adult pain course that has proven effective in reducing pain severity and enhancing overall quality of life.
