Do Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Widespread Pain differ in their association with Depression Symptoms in the 1958 British Cohort?

Bidirectional relationship between chronic pain and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults

OBJECTIVE

To assess the bidirectional association between chronic pain and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults from two prospective cohort studies.

METHODS

We used prospective data (12y of follow-up) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 9149, 5018 women, 65.0 ± 10.2y) and the Health and Retirement Study (n = 16,883, 9810 women, 66.9 ± 10.3y), including data from seven waves of each cohort between 2006 and 2018/2019. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, while chronic pain was estimated using questions about the frequency of being troubled with pain. We used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to assess the bidirectional association between pain and depressive symptoms, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

There was a cross-lagged effect of chronic pain on depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.038; 95%CI: 0.011-0.066. Standardized coefficient (B): 0.021.

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β: 0.044; 95%CI: 0.023-0.065. B: 0.023-0.024) as well as depressive symptoms on pain (ELSA: β: 0.010; 95%CI: 0.002-0.018. B: 0.017-0.019.

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0.011; 95%CI: 0.005-0.017. B: 0.020-0.021). Moreover, there were auto-regressive effects of both chronic pain (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.128-0.171.

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β: 0.129; 95%CI: 0.112-0.145) and depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.130-0.168.

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β: 0.169; 95%CI: 0.154-0.184).

CONCLUSION

We identified a modest bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and chronic pain, using two large prospective ageing cohorts.

Patient-related barriers and enablers to the implementation of high-value physiotherapy for chronic pain: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To identify and synthesize patient-related barriers to and enablers of the implementation of high-value physiotherapy (HVP) for chronic pain. Furthermore, to review what patient-related interventions have been used to facilitate the implementation of HVP for chronic pain, as well as their efficacy.

METHODS

We systematically searched the APA PsycInfo, Embase, CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, and PEDro databases for peer-reviewed studies (published in English) of adults with chronic pain. We used the Theoretical Domains Framework of behavior change to synthesize identified themes relating to barriers and enablers. Outcomes from studies reporting on interventions were also qualitatively synthesized.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies reported on barriers and enablers, 8 of which related to exercise adherence. Themes common to barriers and enablers included perceived efficacy of treatment, interrelationship with the physiotherapist, exercise burden, and the patient's understanding of exercise benefits. Other barriers included fear of movement, fragmented care, and cost. Ten studies explored interventions, 9 of which aimed to improve exercise adherence. Of these, evidence from 4 randomized controlled trials of technology-based interventions demonstrated improved exercise adherence among intervention groups compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic pain experience barriers to HVP, including their beliefs, the nature of their interaction with their physiotherapist, perceived treatment efficacy, and cost. Enablers include rapport with their physiotherapist, achievable exercises, and seamless cost-effective care. Technology-based interventions have demonstrated effectiveness at increasing exercise adherence. Our findings suggest that interventions seeking to enhance implementation of HVP need to consider the multifactorial barriers experienced by patients with chronic pain.

STUDY REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AYGZV).

Associations between Combined Psychological and Lifestyle Factors with Pain Intensity and/or Disability in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is common in primary care, causing disability and economic burden globally. We aimed to compare socio-demographic, health, lifestyle, and psychological factors in people with and without CLBP and correlate them with clinical outcomes in people with CLBP. A total of 253 volunteers with and 116 without CLBP provided sociodemographic information, daily habits, medical history, subjective sleep complaints (Penn State Sleep Questionnaire), low back pain intensity, and disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale), as well as the Zung Self-Rating Scale for self-assessment of depression and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. CLBP diagnosis was linked with female gender and older age, as well as a higher level of sleep complaints such as sleepiness, OSA and insomnia symptoms, and a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The combination of moderate to severe depressive symptoms with obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia symptoms was the most important predictive factor for functional disability in CBLP patients (OR 13.686, 95% CI 4.581-40.885; p < 0.001). In conclusion, depressive symptoms and subjective sleep complaints appear to relate to greater CLBP intensity and/or CLBP-related disability in people with CLBP. A holistic approach is crucial for treating chronic CLBP patients, including psychological and sleep issue assessment and management, to improve their quality of life.