For the many people who suffer from chronic pain and those who help provide treatment for them, it’s crucial that they are aware of the increased risk of suicide that comes with the condition. Those who have chronic pain are at an increased risk for suicide, and understanding this can help with assessment, as well as prevention. Knowing and understanding the risks and associations can go a long way toward helping people who may be touched by this issue.
In a study published in The Journal of Pain, researchers share their findings from a study that evaluated the link between suicide and chronic pain [1]. The study included 524 patients who had chronic pain. Those in the study completed a survey regarding their condition and mental state, and then they completed another follow-up survey after six months. The results were compared and analyzed to determine the increased risk of suicide among the group.
The study reports that in the U.S., around 9% of suicides are related to those living with chronic pain, as mentioned in the suicide note they left behind. Yet this doesn’t account for the many people who commit suicide, suffering from depression that may have been brought on by chronic pain. There may be many more people whose suicides are associated with the chronic pain that they are living with.
The researchers found that chronic pain is a significant risk factor for suicide. What raises the risk of suicide for someone living with chronic pain is that they experience mental defeat, depression, perceived stress, headache, and are active smokers. Those who experience those mental issues have a significant increase in suicidal risk. The one factor that stands out among those with an increased risk, according to the study, is when people feel mental defeat. The study did show that those who are older tend not to have an increased suicide risk, even if they experience mental defeat.
Not to be confused with pain catastrophizing, which focuses on amplifying pain symptoms, mental defeat focuses on negative self-appraisals regarding pain. For example, those who feel mentally defeated due to the chronic pain may feel they can’t fight it anymore, have catastrophic thoughts about their future (i.e., they will be wheelchair bound), or feel that pain has destroyed who they are as a person. It’s not that the person feels hopeless, but more so that they feel it’s a battle that can’t be won and only has a devastating future.
Faced with feelings of mental defeat due to the chronic pain, they are left with a significantly increased risk for suicide. This information is important to keep in mind so that those who are experiencing mental defeat or other related issues can get mental health assistance to address them.
This article was originally published on Confronting Chronic Pain by Dr. Steven Richeimer.
Reference
- The Journal of Pain. Mental Defeat and Suicidality in Chronic Pain. November 2023. https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(23)00452-2/fulltext
