- Pain and depression are closely related. Pain can cause depression and depression can cause pain. This can create a vicious circle in which pain worsens symptoms of depression, and then the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain and so on.
- Depression has been found to be greater in people with chronic back pain than in the general population. In a recent study it was determined that the rate of major depression increases in line with pain. It was also found that the combination of chronic back pain and depression was associated with greater disability than either depression or chronic back pain alone.
- Pain makes it difficult to sleep, causing irritability and fatigue during the day.
- The pain is distracting and affects a person’s ability to concentrate and can affect memory function.
- Patients with back pain spend more time resting at home. This leads to social isolation and a lack of enjoyable activities.
- Financial difficulties can arise, due to the inability to work – this will impact the entire family.
- Some patients experience gastrointestinal distress and mental dullness from the pain medications.
- Depression can cause a decrease in libido and back pain can often inhibit sexual activity which can stress a relationship
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