Resilience, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic pain of various etiologies: interdisciplinary analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain represents a significant global public health challenge, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Characterized by their persistence and prolonged duration, these kinds of pain not only result in functional incapacity, but are also the main reason for patients to seek medical care. The complexity of these conditions is not only limited to the physical aspects, but can also affect a person’s emotional state and mood, favoring the presence of anxiety and/or depression, which not only exacerbate chronic pain but also complicate the treatment process. Resilience and the capacity to deal with adversity are crucial in this context. The objective of this study was to seek out and examine the relationship between resilience, anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain, aiming at more effective and targeted therapeutic approaches. METHODS: Exploratory study in which patients with chronic pain starting treatment at a tertiary hospital were assessed based on sociodemographic and pain-related variables. This work also used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The study explored the relationship between resilience, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. The sample, composed mostly of women, showed that the majority of patients (78.3%) had mood disorder symptoms. Resilience presented a negative correlation with anxiety, depression and pain intensity, suggesting that it helps to protect against these health problems. CONCLUSION: Resilience should be considered an important factor in the effective treatment of people with chronic pain.

Keywords

• anxiety
• chronic pain
• depression
• mood
• resilience