When you have chronic pain, how it’s managed, how it affects your life, and how you see it affects how you feel mentally and emotionally. If you see your pain as unchanging, as unbeatable, you may tend to give in to it, believing that you have no control over your pain. Pain can affect your quality of life. It can keep you from going out and socializing. It can keep you from doing your favorite activities and hobbies. Pain can also keep you from sleeping so you become sleep-deprived and fatigued. You may not be able to prepare meals, so you may go hungry. You may not be able to care for yourself, so you may be unbathed – and so on.

So, given all these ways pain can affect a person, it’s no wonder that this can lead to depression and doctors have noticed that connection a long time ago. Not only are pain and depression two of the most common problems seen by doctors, the can occur at the same time, or co-occur, in 30 to 50% of cases.

The Journal of the American Medical Association just published an article about a study that looked at the self-management of pain and use of antidepressant. In the study, 123 patients were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of treatment for depression and then 6 sessions (over 12 weeks) that helped them learn a self-management program for pain. This program involved learning how to perform coping and distraction techniques, and do muscle relaxation and deep breathing exercises. They were then followed with more therapy for 6 months. A second group of 127 patients received what is called “usual care,” what their doctors would routinely prescribe for people in their situation.

What the researchers found was that the patients in the first group were two to three times more likely to say their depression had eased than those patients who received the usual care. Even better, they had a four times higher rate of seeing their depression disappear within a year and their pain was lessened too than the other group.

Perhaps with numbers showing this type of improvement, more doctors will become aware of the connection and approach management in a wider fashion.

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Image: iStock.com

Post from: Blisstree

Chronic Pain and Depression

See that cheesing rocker to the right?

Well, he’s the reason I missed Wednesday night’s DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows on PBS.

I couldn’t help it. I had to watch the American Idol finale. I got really wrapped up in this season, so I had to find out which of the Davids won at the exact moment he won.

Anyway, the good news (aside from David Cook winning American Idol) is that PBS has made it possible for us to watch DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows online. I hope to do this sometime this weekend, but if anyone beats me to it, feel more than free to share your thoughts here!

Image: Newscom

Remember! You have until May 31, 2008 to enter the Mental Health Notes Birthday Giveaway, and forever to join the This Is Why I ROCK! series!

Post from: Blisstree

Update: Watch DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows Online

If you aren’t already counting down the hours until you find out which of the Davids is going to be the next American Idol (which, I am), turn your channel to your local PBS station tonight at 9 p.m. and watch DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows, the first 90-minute component of “a multi-dimensional PBS project that explores the disease’s complex terrain, offering a comprehensive and timely examination of this devastating disorder.”

About the Program:

“By weaving together the science and treatment of depression with intimate portrayals of families and individuals coping with its wide-ranging effects, the film raises awareness and eliminates the stigma surrounding this prevalent disease, underscoring the fact that whether we are battling it in our families, our workplaces, or in our own minds, depression touches everyone.”

During DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows, you’ll hear from mental health consumers who are living with depression, and scientists involved with neurological research and new treatments for depression.

Make sure you stick around afterward, as Jane Pauley hosts TAKE ONE STEP: Caring for Depression, with Jane Pauley and experts offer advice about recognizing and treating depression.

And, if anyone who watches either DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows or both DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows and TAKE ONE STEP: Caring for Depression, with Jane Pauley and wants to share their thoughts in a guest post here at Mental Health Notes, I’d be more than happy to oblige!

Image: Newscom

Remember! You have until May 31, 2008 to enter the Mental Health Notes Birthday Giveaway, and forever to join the This Is Why I ROCK! series!

Post from: Blisstree

DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows Tonight On PBS