People with symptoms of depression are likely to have back pain, reveals a new study. The results showed a significant association between symptoms of depression and low back pain.
On initial analysis considering the participants as individuals, rather than twins and therefore not accounting for genetic and familial factors, the odds of having back pain were about 1.6 higher for those with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Back Pain
Back pain or Backache is common due to poor posture, postural deformities and life style. Back pain can be classified anatomically as upper, lower and middle back pain.
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On analysis of twin pairs, which controls for genetic and familial factors that could influence the relationship between depression and back pain, the relationship remained significant, with a 1.7 increase in odds. The association was even stronger, more than a 2.3 increase in odds of low back pain associated with depression and anxiety, on analysis of dizygotic (non-identical) twins, who share half their genes.
On further analysis of monozygotic twins, who are genetically identical-the association between symptoms of depression and low back pain disappeared. This suggested that the strong association found in non-identical twins resulted from the "confounding" effects of common genetic factors influencing both conditions. For example, genes affecting levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine might affect the risk of both conditions.
![Reducing the High Burden of Chronic Low Back Pain]( "Reducing the High Burden of Chronic Low Back Pain")
Standardized research methods are required to make greater progress toward reducing the high burden and costs of chronic low back pain (cLBP).
Previous studies have shown a "consistent relationship" between back pain and depression, a combination that might complicate diagnosis and treatment. However, the nature of the association remains unclear. The new study was the first to examine the relationship between depression and low back pain using twin data to control for genetic and familial factors.
The finding that the association disappears after fully adjusting for genetics and familial confounders in identical twins suggests that "genetics was the main confounder" of the relationship between depression and back pain. Thus the commonly found association between these health conditions was probably not a true relationship, as there are other factors influencing it.
The study is published in the journal PAIN(r), the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Source: Medindia
Reducing the High Burden of Chronic Low Back Pain
Standardized research methods are required to make greater progress toward reducing the high burden and costs of chronic low back pain (cLBP).
Advertisement
Previous studies have shown a "consistent relationship" between back pain and depression, a combination that might complicate diagnosis and treatment. However, the nature of the association remains unclear. The new study was the first to examine the relationship between depression and low back pain using twin data to control for genetic and familial factors.
The finding that the association disappears after fully adjusting for genetics and familial confounders in identical twins suggests that "genetics was the main confounder" of the relationship between depression and back pain. Thus the commonly found association between these health conditions was probably not a true relationship, as there are other factors influencing it.
The study is published in the journal PAIN(r), the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Source: Medindia
Clinical Depression
Clinical Depression is a serious medical condition that affects majority of people at some point in their lives. Symptoms of clinical depression include sleep disorder, loss of appetite.
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 Depression Symptom EvaluationDepression occurs due to alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. | Advertisement
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