Elsevier

The Journal of Pain

Volume 12, Issue 9, September 2011, Pages 964-973
The Journal of Pain

Original Report
Reciprocal Relationship Between Pain and Depression: A 12-Month Longitudinal Analysis in Primary Care

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2011.03.003Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Pain and depression are the most prevalent physical and psychological symptom-based disorders, respectively, and co-occur 30 to 50% of the time. However, their reciprocal relationship and potentially causative effects on one another have been inadequately studied. Longitudinal data analysis involving 500 primary care patients with persistent back, hip, or knee pain were enrolled in the Stepped Care for Affective Disorders and Musculoskeletal Pain (SCAMP) study. Half of the participants had comorbid depression and were randomized to a stepped care intervention (n = 123) or treatment as usual (n = 127). Another 250 nondepressed patients with similar pain were followed in a parallel cohort. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Mixed effects model repeated measures (MMRM) multivariable analyses were conducted to determine if change in pain severity predicted subsequent depression severity, and vice versa. Change in pain was a strong predictor of subsequent depression severity (t-value = 6.63, P < .0001). Likewise, change in depression severity was an equally strong predictor of subsequent pain severity (t-value = 7.28, P < .0001). Results from the full cohort were similar in the clinical trial subgroup. In summary, pain and depression have strong and similar effects on one another when assessed longitudinally over 12 months.

Perspective

This study strengthens the evidence for a bidirectional and potentially causative influence of pain and depression on one another. A change in severity of either symptom predicts subsequent severity of the other symptom. Thus, recognition and management of both conditions may be warranted, particularly when treatment focused on 1 condition is not leading to an optimal response.

Key words

Pain
depression
causation
prognosis
primary care
longitudinal

Cited by (0)

Supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to Dr. Kroenke (MH-071268).

Dr. Kroenke has received honoraria from Eli Lilly and Forest Pharmaceuticals for serving on advisory boards and speaking. None of the other authors have any financial or other conflicts of interest to disclose relevant to this paper.