Anxiety and depression impact the outcomes of chronic low back pain management

This is a longitudinal study of 284 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). [1] It aimed to assess the effectiveness of the usual multidisciplinary approach and the impact of anxiety and depression symptoms and their interaction on clinical outcomes. The majority of patients had both anxiety and depression and experienced higher pain severity (P < 0.001)…

Chronic physical illness increases the risk of psychiatric hospital admission in patients with major depressive disorder

This is a study of 190 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). [1] The authors investigated the effect that medical comorbidity (chronic physical illness – CPI) had on psychiatric admissions. More than two CPIs in patients diagnosed with recurrent MDD were associated with higher rates of psychiatric admission, independent of psychiatric comorbidities and other clinical…

Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea have an increased risk to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression

This is a Korean study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. [1]  In a relatively small group of 197 patients with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the authors found an increased risk to develop an affective disorder in 9 years of follow up. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for patients with OSA…

Psychiatric comorbidity increases opioid use and decreases survival in breast cancer patients

Approximately 40% of patients with breast cancer are estimated to have mental health problems. A recently published study in the Journal of Oncology Practice looked into the effect that psychiatric comorbidity has on the use of prescription opioids and survival in breast cancer patients. [1] This is a retrospective study that analysed a total of…