The Association Between Depression and Physical Pain

Researchers believe that there is a shared neural pathway for pain and depression with serotonin and norepinephrine involved in both mood and pain. People who are actually depressed often talk to their physicians only about their physical pain.

Research has shown that the higher the number of physical symptoms a person is experiencing, the more likely they are to be suffering from depression. Depression is strongly suspected when physicians cannot find a physical source for the pain patients report experiencing.

It is also thought that depression may increase a person’s sensitivity to pain or may increase the suffering associated with pain.

Studies have shown that, of those reporting nine or more physical pain symptoms, 60% had depression. When only one physical symptom was reported, only 2% were found to have depression.

A high number of physical pain symptoms are also predictive of a relapse, even after mood has lifted. Further, people who experience chronic pain as part of their depression are more likely to also have suicidal thoughts.

In addition, people with diagnosed physical illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease, dementia or cancer (to name only a few) suffer depression in disproportionately higher numbers than the general population.