These issues can be that which springboards a sufferer into a depressive episode, which can be highly difficult to pull yourself out of – especially if you aren’t aware of the problem.

Depression is largely the most common complaint of chronic pain sufferers. Alarmingly, around 50% of sufferers who attend clinics have also been diagnosed with depression. For these people, the pain can often feel worse, and be more persistent, than those who suffer from chronic pain but not depression. Living with chronic pain can be hard enough, and depression and other mood disorders serves only to amplify that by causing issues on health, relationships, personal functioning and quality of life in general.

Further, the rates of increased suicidal ideation, attempts, and completions in chronic pain patients are higher than nonpatients. Regardless of this, diagnosing depression in such patients can often take a while to occur, if it is discovered at all. When getting help for chronic pain, any additional depressive symptoms can be mistakenly pushed aside, with a larger focus on pain management instead. While this can be beneficial, because dealing with pain effectively can assist in the reduction of depression and other mood disorders, it can be damaging if such depressive symptoms continue without being taken into consideration.

Certainly, one of the most effective methods of treating mood disorders caused by chronic pain is a mix of medication and psychotherapy. This, on top of treatments for chronic pain itself, can ease suffering and encourage a higher quality of life. Effective medications include certain antidepressants (such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), which can act to stabilise mood, improve pain perception and reduce feelings of worthlessness and depression. 

Psychotherapy is also a highly effective treatment for both mood disorders and chronic pain. In particular, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has often been thought to be highly effective at treating major depression. CBT aims to put depression sufferers on the path to remission and recovery by challenging negative beliefs about themselves (so for chronic pain sufferers, this might be the belief that they’ll never get better, or the pain will get worse). While CBT doesn’t work to remove the pain entirely (although it can for some), it is purported to be able to reduce pain symptoms and catastrophizing, which can improve mood disorders and have a knock-on effect of positivity throughout the patient’s life.

Physical activity can also assist in both feelings of depression and chronic pain. While it can be tempting to avoid exercise, even if it’s very light, it’s important to understand how effective it can be, not only in decreasing pain, but in drastically improving mood. If physical activity sounds like something you’d like to consider in helping you manage your pain, it’s important to first speak with your doctor or healthcare professional. This way, you can get the all clear before diving into anything that might make your chronic pain worse, and together you can work on an exercise plan that is tailored to suit you personally. 

For anyone suffering from chronic pain, it’s important to know that you don’t have to let it control you. This is easier said than done when pain can feel so overwhelming it eclipses any other thoughts, but by rising above it and taking control, you will lower the risk of depression or mood disorders, improve your pain levels, and lead a better, happier, healthier life.

Please note: This article is made available for educational purposes only, not to provide personal medical advice.