Exploring the bidirectional relationship between pain and mental disorders: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization...

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Psychiatry
• Pain Medicine

Background:

• The relationship between pain and mental health is complex, with prior research yielding inconclusive results.
• Psychological interventions offer an alternative to medication for pain relief, but clinical application is limited by inconsistent findings.
• Genetic data and Mendelian randomization (MR) can explore causal links between pain and mental disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the potential bidirectional causal relationship between localized pain and common mental disorders using genetic data.
• To address the gap in understanding the complex interplay between physical pain and psychological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.
• Utilized Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for localized pain and mental disorders.
• Employed inverse-variance weighted MR and MR-Egger methods, reporting odds ratios and F statistics.

Main Results:

• Insomnia showed a causal relationship with genetic susceptibility to head, neck/shoulder, back, and hip pain.
• Headache, neck/shoulder, back, and hip pain were found to promote genetic liability for insomnia.
• Depression was associated with predisposition to headache, neck/shoulder, back, and stomach/abdominal pain, which in turn predispose to depression.

Conclusions:

• The study enhances understanding of the intricate relationship between pain and mental health.
• Findings underscore the importance of integrated pain management strategies addressing both physical and psychological aspects.