Research finds middle-aged women more likely to suffer from chronic pain, depression

Research conducted by a Wayne State faculty member and her student revealed that middle-aged women with low income and minimal education are most susceptible to chronic pain and depression.
“This study is significant because chronic pain and depression are costly conditions that affect a number of people,” Lisa Renee Miller, a fourth-year doctoral student attending the clinical psychology program, said. “Understanding how chronic pain and depression are related is important for both assessing and treating these conditions.”
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and aided by the Center for Urban Studies at WSU, which conducted phone interviews to generate a sample for the research.
According to The Journal of Pain, where the findings were published, chronic pain and depression account for $295 billion in the health industry annually. At least one in five people are diagnosed with chronic pain, and one of three people who have chronic pain — consistent pain for six months or more — are treated for depression within any given community.
However, young women and African-American women pose greater risk in developing both chronic pain and depression.
Their findings suggest that African-Americans with chronic pain tend to report being depressed more than whites, though white people were more likely than African-Americans to experience chronic pain without ever experiencing depression.
“Either condition can occur independently of the other,” Annmarie Cano, principal investigator and associate professor of psychology, said. “But the two can co-occur for a variety of reasons including psychological, social and biological reasons.”
Cano said, for instance, that someone might develop depression from lack of social activity due to chronic pain.
“They may get depressed and down because they can no longer enjoy the life they once led,” she said.
Factors that can play a role in both chronic pain and depression are stress and financial woes. A person who suffers from chronic pain or depression can find it difficult to maintain work, and with no post-education their depression or chronic pain might worsen.
Research has also indicated that depression decreases with age, whereas pain increases with age.
“There are a variety of hypotheses as to why depression may decrease with age,” Miller said. “One idea that is supported by research, the socio-emotional selectivity theory, suggests that older adults engage in emotion regulation strategies that are aimed at maximizing positive affect and minimizing negative affect.”
Cano said that, with these findings, the hope is that health care professionals will begin performing thorough screenings for both problems, and that certain groups of patients, especially younger patients and African-American patients with chronic pain, receive appropriate screenings for depression.
“We also hope to use the findings to demonstrate to federal and state agencies that Michigan is deserving of funding to assess and treat these problems,” she said.