Chronic Pain Negatively Influences Mental Health, Sleep Patterns in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Chronic pain caused by a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease (RMD) can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to suicidal thoughts, according to results of a survey presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology.

To determine the influence of pain among individuals with an RMD, the Danish Rheumatism Association administered online questionnaires to 1328 members of a user panel in the association who had at least one RMD. Overall, 69% of the user panel answered the questionnaire.

According to the responses, 67% of individuals rarely or never feel fully rested when they wake up in the morning, and 36% were taking pain medication to improve their sleep. A total 69% of individuals also reported that their quality of sleep had negatively impacted their pain.

Over a 4-week period, 58% reported that nothing had been manageable for them due to their pain. Furthermore, responses indicated that 11% had had suicidal thoughts, and 45% had not wanted to be around other people due to their pain.

Daily pain or pain occurring several times in 1 week was reported by 83%. Of these respondents, 46% had received strong pain medications over the previous year, and 78% had not been offered any alternative to strong pain medication.

“It has been a surprise for the Danish Rheumatism Association, that pain has such a huge impact on the participants’ daily life, especially on their mental health,” the authors concluded. “Therefore, the organization has been using the result of this study in our political work for better treatment and support to patients with chronic pain in our healthcare system, and in our political campaigning about the importance of a focus on pain among patients with RMDs.”

—Melinda Stevens

References:

1. Thomsen LM. The influence of pain on sleep problems, mental health and use of strong painkillers among patients with arthritis [EULAR OP0347-PARE]. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(suppl2):A257. https://scientific.sparx-ip.net/archiveeular/?c=a&searchfor=OP0347-PARE&view=1&item=2019OP0347-PARE. Accessed June 14, 2019.
2. Suicidal thoughts related to pain in one in ten patients with rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease [press release]. Madrid, Spain: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology; June 14, 2019. https://www.eular.org/sysModules/obxContent/files/www.eular.2015/1_42291DEB-50E5-49AE-5726D0FAAA83A7D4/09_abstract_3683_and_4723_lack_of_psychological_care_in_arthritis_final.pdf. Accessed June 14, 2019.