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Comorbid pain, depression, and anxiety: multifaceted pathology allows for multifaceted treatment
Stephen E Nicolson1, Jason P Caplan, Deidre E Williams
1Departments of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
Abstract:
The care of patients who suffer from physical pain and a psychiatric illness is typically challenging because of the complex interplay of affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physical aspects of pain. Psychiatrists are often asked to evaluate patients with pain because of a concern for comorbid depression and anxiety, and fears of suicidality as a result of pain. This article reviews the pathophysiology of comorbid pain, anxiety, and depression, along with the treatment modalities (pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, and "alternative") that may benefit all three conditions.
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