30-Second Blog “Snapshot:”
- According to a study published in The Journal of Pain and Psychiatry Advisor, a behavioral health condition may indicate the possibility of onset chronic pain in adolescents.
- The study analyzed face-to-face surveys from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) between February 2001 and January 2004. Participants were between the ages of 13 and 18.
- In this blog, the pain management and behavioral health experts at Southwest Spine and Pain Center discuss results from the study.
Although previous studies have been conducted on the correlation between behavioral health conditions and chronic pain before, none have focused on adolescents. Additionally, many of the previous studies presented inconsistent data, according to the Psychiatry Advisor.
Before beginning their initial analyses, researchers from the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Basel in Switzerland determined the focus of their investigation (study). Their goal was to identify the co-occurrence of behavioral health conditions and clinical pain. They also wanted to assess whether or not a condition could precede the other.
To do this, the team examined data from a nationwide face-to-face survey called the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). What they found was, 25.93% of participants had experienced a chronic pain condition and behavioral health condition in their lifetime. The behavioral health conditions that eventually led to a chronic pain condition included:
- Affective Disorders
- Anxiety
- Behavioral Health / Mental Illness
The researchers also noted that although chronic pain often superseded a behavioral health condition, there was no evidence to support a reversed scenario (behavioral health condition superseding a chronic pain condition). These findings suggest the importance of understanding both behavioral health and chronic pain in patients. With that, the team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center is dedicated to providing patients with care that address both the mental and physical side effects of chronic pain.
If you’re suffering from depression, anxiety, or stress due to chronic pain, call Southwest Spine and Pain Center today to meet with one of our behavioral health specialists. We will work with you to address the complications that come with having chronic pain, and we will provide techniques to help manage the negative mental and emotional side effects. Call us today!
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.