A recent study conducted by the University of Sydney has revealed that individuals suffering from depression have a 60% higher likelihood of developing low back pain at some point in their lives. While it is common for patients to experience both conditions, this study is the first to comprehensively review existing research in the field and demonstrate that depression could potentially trigger back pain.
Published in Arthritis Care and Research, the study examined data from 11 international studies involving 23,109 participants who were not currently experiencing back pain. The findings indicated that individuals displaying symptoms of depression were at a significantly increased risk of developing low back pain in the future compared to those without such symptoms. Moreover, the risk of low back pain was even higher in individuals with more severe levels of depression, regardless of whether the depression was self-reported or clinically diagnosed.
The study also noted that up to 48% of individuals with back pain experience symptoms of depression, although the exact cause remains a topic of debate among scientists. The researchers acknowledged that the current study did not consider potential influences such as genetics and shared environmental factors.
Lead author Marina Pinheiro, a physiotherapist, emphasised the need for further research to investigate the causal relationship between depression and back pain. Ms. Pinheiro, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences, highlighted that while the study confirms a correlation between the two conditions, the underlying reasons are still unclear. Possible explanations include reduced physical activity, poor sleep, or issues with neurotransmitters affecting both mood and pain thresholds.
The research team is conducting additional studies to explore the genetic impact on these conditions, with initial findings from twin studies suggesting a genetic predisposition in some individuals for experiencing both depression and back pain.
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