疼痛和抑郁症密切相关。抑郁症会导致疼痛，同时疼痛又会导致抑郁症。有时疼痛和抑郁症会形成一个恶性循环，疼痛会加重抑郁症状，抑郁症又会加重痛觉。
对许多人而言，抑郁症会导致无法解释的身体症状，如背痛或头痛。这种疼痛可能是抑郁症的第一个或唯一的症状。
疼痛及其带来的问题会随着时间的推移击垮您，并影响您的情绪。慢性疼痛会导致一些问题，如睡眠困难和压力，进而导致抑郁症。
由于工作或财务问题，或不能参加社会活动和兴趣爱好，丧失能力的疼痛会导致自尊心低下。
抑郁症不只发生在受伤引发疼痛的患者身上。也常见于因健康问题（如糖尿病、癌症或心脏病）而出现疼痛的患者。
为了控制疼痛和抑郁症状，您可能需要分别治疗。然而，一些治疗方法可能对两者都有帮助：
- 抗抑郁药物可以缓解疼痛和抑郁症，因为这两种病症在大脑中具有共同的化学信使。
- 谈话疗法，也叫心理咨询（心理疗法），可以有效治疗两种症状。
- 减压技术、身体活动、运动、冥想、记日记、学习应对技巧和其他策略也可能有所帮助。
- 疼痛康复项目，，如妙佑医疗国际疼痛康复中心，通常会提供包括医学和精神病学方面的团队治疗。
通过联合治疗来治疗共发的疼痛和抑郁症可能最为有效。
如果您有疼痛和抑郁症，请在症状恶化之前进行治疗。您不必忍受这些痛苦。正确的治疗可以帮助您重新开始享受人生。
显示参考文献
- Sheng J, et al. The link between depression and chronic pain: Neural mechanisms in the brain. Neural Plasticity. 2017; 19 June 2017. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2017/9724371/. Accessed Feb. 21, 2019.
- Hazeldine-Baker CE, et al. Understanding the link between feelings of mental defeat, self-efficacy and the experience of chronic pain. British Journal of Pain. 2018;12:87.
- Hermesdorf M, et al. Pain sensitivity in patients with major depression: Differential effect of pain sensitivity measures, somatic cofactors, and disease characteristic. Journal of Pain. 2016;17:606.
- Chronic illness and mental health: Recognizing and treating depression. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml. Accessed Feb. 21, 2019.
- IsHak WW, et al. Pain and depression: A systematic review. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2018;26:352.
- Thompson EL, et al. A network analysis of the links between chronic pain symptoms and affective disorder symptoms. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. In press. Accessed Feb. 22, 2019.
- Pain: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Pain-Hope-Through-Research. Accessed Feb. 25, 2019.
- Jaracz J, et al. Unexplained painful physical symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder: Prevalence, pathophysiology and management. CNS Drugs. 2016;30:293.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 24, 2019.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/zh-hans/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/pain-and-depression/faq-20057823