Depression Is Associated with Chronic Pain in Disabled Older Adults

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.

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."

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).

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.