Depression Is Associated with Chronic Pain in Disabled Older Adults

ABSTRACT

Background

The association between depression and chronic pain has been clearly demonstrated in healthy older adults, but not in older adults with disabilities. This study thus aimed to clarify the association between depression and chronic pain in older adults with disabilities.

Methods

In total, 92 older adults aged 65 years or older subscribed to Japanese long-term care insurance services were included in this study. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Version-Japanese (GDS-S-J) and was diagnosed among respondents who scored 6 or more points. Chronic pain was assessed using a questionnaire and defined as a “pain that persists in the present and has lasted for more than three months.”

Results

Chronic pain was associated with depression in older adults with disabilities (odds ratio: 3,355, 95% confidence interval: 1,232–9,135, p = 0,018). There was a strong association between severe chronic pain and depression (odds ratio: 3,699, 95% confidence interval: 1,345–10,173, p = 0,011).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that it is necessary to focus on intensity of chronic pain to improve depression in older adults with disabilities who are more difficult to treat than healthy older adults.

Acknowledgments

Thanks go to all the participants and members of the project who assisted with data collection.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.