Chronic Pain and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic Pain (CP) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are distinct conditions with significant individual research.
• The literature mapping the association between CP and OCD remains limited and potentially overlooked.
• Understanding the interplay between these conditions is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the existing literature on the association between Chronic Pain and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
• To identify research gaps and areas for future investigation.
• To synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence, neurobiology, psychological factors, and interventions related to CP and OCD.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted.
• Searches included English-language articles across multiple databases (e.g., Psychinfo, Medline, Scopus).
• Keywords related to both Chronic Pain and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder were utilized.

Main Results:

• The review included 87 records, categorized into Prevalence/Severity, Neurobiology, Psychological Models/Factors, and Interventions.
• Prevalence rates of CP in OCD and vice versa vary, with unclear underlying reasons.
• Commonalities in altered pain processing, brain region dysregulation, and neurotransmitter systems were identified between CP and OCD.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between CP and OCD is complex and warrants further investigation.
• Overlapping pathophysiological processes and psychological aspects suggest potential for shared therapeutic targets.
• High-quality, directed studies are needed to clarify the CP-OCD association and inform treatment strategies.