­Chronic Back Pain Increases the Risk for Depression, Anxiety

Chronic back pain is associated with a higher risk of mental health problems including depression and anxiety, according to a new analysis.

Although back pain is a major health concern worldwide, little research has examined its impact on mental health, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
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To conduct their study, the researchers analyzed the data of 190,593 adults aged 18 years and older who participated in the World Health Survey from 2002 to 2004.

Survey respondents self-reported previous 12-month psychotic symptoms and depression and previous 30-day symptoms of anxiety, sleep problems, stress sensitivity, and back pain.

Overall, 35.1% of respondents reported any back pain, and 6.9% reported chronic back pain.

Compared to those without back pain, respondents reporting any back pain were more than twice as likely to have subsyndromal depression, brief depressive episode, depressive episode, psychosis diagnosis with symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and the continuous variable of stress sensitivity.

These associations were more significant among respondents with chronic back pain; they are 3 times more likely to experience a depressive episode and 2.6 time more likely to experience psychosis than those without back pain.

The results were consistent regardless of economic status.

“Our data establish that [back pain] is associated with elevated mental health comorbidity in [low- and middle-income countries],” the researchers concluded. “Integrated interventions that address back pain and metal health comorbidities might be an important next step to tackle this considerable burden.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Stubbs B, Koyanagi A, Thompson T, et al. The epidemiology of back pain and it’s relationship with depression, psychosis, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and stress sensitivity: data from 43 low- and middle-income countries. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2016;43:63-70. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2016.09.008.