Chronic back pain and depression are often closely linked. While it is very common for sufferers of regular backache to become depressed, the reverse may also occur. Depression itself may lead to sustained backache.
People with constant backache have trouble sleeping at night because the discomfort keeps them awake. This makes them feel irritable and tired the following day. Also, during the day these people find it difficult to move about. Chronic Back Pain And Depression. They therefore move around slowly and gradually become isolated socially because they don’t want to draw attention to themselves.
If the backache keeps the person off work, this can lead to financial difficulties within the family, creating resentment between the sufferer and spouse and family. Chronic Back Pain And Depression. Family members may also resent having to take up the sufferer’s household chores, creating further strain with relationships. The patient will also feel less like maintaining a normal sexual relationship with their spouse or partner. Some medications cause gastrointestinal upset (stomach ache) while others dull the mental agility. Memory and concentration may be negatively affected.
In 1991, Atkinson et al conducted a systematic study of depressed male Veterans Administration (VA) patients with chronic backache. Almost half reported that depression occurred prior to the onset of pain symptoms. Later, in 2000, Linton reviewed other research studies and found that depression was a significant risk factor for developing lasting backache.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain in both physical and emotional terms. Chronic Back Pain And Depression. It is not unreasonable to conclude that a psychological method of pain management may be effective. In fact, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown some benefit, either on its own or in tandem with other therapies.
Rather than attacking the backache itself, CBT helps the suffer to manage their life and develop coping strategies. This delivery of control back into the hands of the patient reduces the levels of depression they are feeling. Chronic Back Pain And Depression.