Living With Chronic Pain: Unmet Mental Health Care Needs

Chronic pain is a debilitating long-term disease that can drastically affect a person’s quality of life. But with proper health care and access to treatment, people who deal with chronic pain can lead fulfilling and healthy lives that aren’t characterized by constant aches and tension. However, the lack of comprehensive healthcare in the United States and the unmet mental health requirements from the public sector mean that adults with pain could suffer unnecessarily.

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Mental Health Treatment for Those with Chronic Pain

Mental health care is an important part of comprehensive wellness. Along with physical health, mental health leads to a well-rounded sense of self and balance that provides optimal functioning. However, those who are dealing with chronic pain could be less likely to use mental health treatment options compared to those with just mental health requirements.

For example, studies have shown that adults living with chronic pain typically have a lower use of mental health treatment. Among those adults who require mental health care and deal with chronic pain, untreated symptoms lead to longer-lasting anxiety and depression. Less than 50% of adults who live with both chronic pain AND mental health issues seek treatment for anxiety and depression — showing that it is a crisis the US healthcare system needs to find a solution for as soon as possible.

Chronic Pain and Mental Health Treatment Needs

Healthcare professionals who are treating those with lifelong pain could have little mental health training. They might not be able to recognize certain symptoms and psychological concerns present in patients, such as indicators of anxiety, depression, stress, or apathy, and only think of the person’s current emotional state as relevant to the chronic pain alone.

For patients with reoccurring pain, the typical doctor’s visit may include laboratory test results and imaging. It won’t include a behavioral questionnaire or mental health discussion prior to physical testing. In this case, the emotions and psychological conditions mentioned later on in the appointment could be considered an afterthought and a result of the pain, not a comorbidity with the chronic pain.

More Accurate Diagnosis

In the healthcare system, the workflows that deal with physical pain and mental health use an either/or grading scale and don’t take into account that both could be occurring at the same time. A better understanding of how both illnesses can occur simultaneously can lead to more accurate diagnoses.

Furthermore, in some areas or socioeconomic sectors, US adults living with chronic pain might not be able to access treatment for both conditions. People living with long-term pain also have to deal with multiple appointments and medications that need to be easily disposable and managed by someone who is dealing with an illness. Limited mobility, lack of access to healthcare, and lack of providers trained in pain management can reduce the patient’s access to mental health services.

Assessing Mental Health Conditions

Lastly, patients with chronic pain who also have mental health conditions might have visited a physician or a specialist who was unable to assess the patient’s anxiety and depression. Overlapping symptoms that are both present in chronic pain AND anxiety or depression can lead to confusion in the diagnosis phase. Studies have shown that there needs to be additional research to isolate the different diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment modalities.

Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician. Please speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

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