A recent study conducted by the University of Arizona Health Sciences revealed that adults suffering from chronic pain are more likely to show signs of anxiety and depression compared to those without chronic pain. Interestingly, these individuals also tend to seek mental health care less frequently and often find their mental health needs inadequately addressed during treatment.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 51.6 million adults in the U.S. faced chronic pain in 2021. The research indicates that while those with chronic pain account for 20.4% of the adult population, they make up approximately 55.5% of adults exhibiting clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“The mental health movement in the U.S. has achieved considerable success, improving lives for many,” stated Jennifer S. De La Rosa, PhD, the lead author and strategy director at the U of A Health Sciences Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction, which supported this study. “However, for those whose mental health needs remain largely unaddressed, chronic pain is our reality. Often, the concerns of people experiencing chronic pain are neglected in our national mental health discussions. Our findings suggest that we need to include the perspectives of those living with chronic pain in future mental health planning.”
The article titled “The unmet mental health needs of U.S. adults living with chronic pain” was recently published in the journal PAIN.
This research builds on previous findings from the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction, which indicated that one in twenty adults in the U.S. suffer from both chronic pain and symptoms of anxiety or depression. Furthermore, individuals with chronic pain are about five times more likely to have untreated symptoms of anxiety or depression than those who do not suffer from chronic pain.
The latest study explored how frequently individuals with chronic pain accessed mental health treatment and whether they benefited from it.
The research team examined data from 31,997 participants of the National Health Interview Survey, recognized as the leading source for tracking chronic pain. They identified disparities related to chronic pain across three key areas: the necessity for mental health treatment, the actual use of mental health treatment, and the effectiveness of treatment for anxiety and depression when it was sought.
They found that 43.2% of adults with chronic pain in the U.S. — about 21.5 million people — had a mental health need. In contrast, only 17.4% of adults without chronic pain were identified as having mental health care needs.
Among those requiring mental health treatment, chronic pain was linked to a 40.3% decrease in the likelihood of seeking mental health care.
“The issues that need addressing for those with chronic pain differ greatly from those for individuals without such pain,” commented De La Rosa, who also serves as an assistant research professor in the College of Medicine — Tucson’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “Enhancing healthcare for individuals with chronic pain involves not only connecting them to mental health services but also tackling the significant obstacles they face in achieving relief, even when under care.”
Findings showed that when receiving mental health treatment, adults with chronic pain were over twice as likely to continue experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression compared to others. Only 44.4% of individuals with chronic pain — about 9.5 million people — utilized mental health services that effectively addressed their anxiety and depression symptoms, compared to 71.5% of those without chronic pain.
“Numerous factors may contribute to the suboptimal mental health care results for those with chronic pain, such as accessibility of services and the challenges of attending appointments,” De La Rosa noted. “Moreover, a scarce number of mental health professionals are trained to help those with chronic pain. Consequently, only a small fraction of individuals in this cohort are likely to receive tailored mental health treatment. Investigating the impact of chronic pain on the national mental health crisis offers us a valuable opportunity to transform our healthcare system’s ability to address both chronic pain and mental health issues.”
“This research has highlighted a crucial oversight in addressing the mental health needs of those living with chronic pain,” expressed Todd Vanderah, PhD, the study’s senior author, who directs the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction, serves as a Regents Professor, and heads the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine — Tucson. “Our mission at the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction is to leverage this information to reshape healthcare for chronic pain. By acknowledging and addressing the simultaneous presence of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, we can empower millions affected by pain to lead fulfilling lives.”
Additional authors from the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction include Medical Director Mohab Ibrahim, MD, PhD, a professor of anesthesiology; Policy Director Beth Meyerson, PhD, MDIV, a professor of family and community medicine; and team members Alicia Allen, PhD, an associate professor; and Benjamin Brady, DrPH. Other contributors are doctoral student Katherine Herder and Jessica S. Wallace, a program evaluator in the College of Medicine — Tucson’s Department of Family and Community Medicine.
