[Chronic pain and its relationship with anxiety and depression]

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in chronic pain. Clinicians often interpret depression/anxiety as consequences of chronic pain, but some psychiatrists contend that the consequence hypothesis is overrated and that psychiatric symptoms in pain patients should be understood as part of the psychiatric disease. In this overview, the potential bidirectional nature of the relationship between chronic pain and depression/anxiety is discussed on a conceptual level. Two additional possible ways of understanding the relationship are presented: psychological vulnerability can be a risk factor for the chronification of pain, and an underlying mild chronic pain can be exacerbated when the patient encounters a new psychosocial stressor. In clinical practice, it is important not to get stuck in a fruitless chase for a causal understanding. However, it is of great value for clinicians to reflect upon the complexity and dynamic nature of the relationship between pain and depression/anxiety.