Psychological And Socioeconomic Traits In Chronic Pain

Sometimes the duration, frequency, and intensity of chronic pain – as well as the existence of the pain itself – can be linked to a direct cause.

You may develop chronic pain:

• After a failed surgery
• After an accident or injury
• Or just from excess and routine pressure on a specific body part

But other times, the reason why you have chronic pain can be harder to identify. And these reasons are expanding as the number of chronic pain sufferers continues to grow.

Chronic Pain Impacts

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently estimated chronic pain impacts around 1 in 5 adults in America. Roughly half of these patients say the intensity of the pain limits their ability to perform day-to-day activities. 

So what makes pain more intense or frequent for some patients as opposed to others when there is not a clear cause? It could be due to your psychological make-up. 

Presence and Intensity of Pain

Researchers have recently started to focus on the effects of psychological and sociological factors on chronic pain. They found certain psychological traits have a surprisingly significant role in the presence and intensity of the pain. 

In fact, a recent study identified clusters of characteristics that were common in pain sufferers and impacted the magnitude of the condition. 

PLOS Biology Study

The study, which was recently published in the journal PLOS Biology, took several considerations into account to gauge that traits may impact pain.

The researchers took data from an existing study that focused on back pain. They also conducted an independent trial where more than 60 participants filled out questionnaires about personality traits and socioeconomic factors.

The participants also underwent fMRI scans, which measure brain activity, for added insight into how chronic pain was triggered.

Heightened Symptoms

The scientists found the participants who had the following were far more likely to have heightened symptoms:

• A more negative outlook
• More stress
• A fear or anxiety about pain

Less Debilitating Pain

On the flip side, patients who had more of the following were less likely to have debilitating pain. 

• Optimism
• Lower levels of neuroticism
• A capacity for mindfulness

Researchers have found a link between socioeconomic status and pain too, which ties in with the psychological factors as well.

Several recent studies looked at income levels of pain sufferers. They found people who had lower income and less financial stability were far more likely to have a vulnerability to pain, especially when there was financial anxiety present.

Greater Anxiety and Stress

In short, greater anxiety and stress lead to greater and more frequent instances of chronic pain, which creates a vicious cycle that is hard to undo. 

Luckily, there is experienced and pinpointed help available to address your chronic pain before it takes over your life and your outlook. 

Contact Us Today

Contact Dr. Rich today to schedule your consultation. We can help to identify the main factors that are contributing to your specific case of chronic pain.

Not all pain conditions are created equal. With a thorough and in-depth examination of all of the contributing factors, you can find a tailored solution that will help you get back to your normal routine and back to a positive outlook.

Resources

• Image attribution
• Webmd.com
• Healthline.com
• Ninds.nih.gov
• Medlineplus.gov