Chronic pain in older adults with psychiatric disorders: the DoCPPA study protocol

Abstract

Abstract Background Chronic pain (CP) and psychiatric disorders (PD) are common in older adults, and they both may significantly impact patients’ functioning and quality of life. However, research on the prevalence and impact of CP in people with PD remains limited– especially in older adults– and psychiatric care often neglects somatic comorbidities. Objectives The main objective of the DoCPPA study is to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CP in older adults with PD followed-up in psychiatric services. Our secondary objective is to estimate associations between CP and various clinical indicators related to physical, cognitive, and mental health, as well as quality of life. Setting Department of Aging Psychiatry of Le Vinatier Hospital Center (France, Bron), inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services. Method/design Cross-sectional monocentric study with 430 patients with PD under psychiatric care. The inclusion period will be 36 months. The patients will be evaluated using validated scales and neuropsychological assessments. Discussion This study aims to contribute to improving care in aging psychiatry, a field where a major challenge lies in the management of multiple chronic conditions.

Keywords

• Chronic pain
• Psychiatry
• Aging psychiatry
• Older age
• Elderly
• Depression