Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression Explored in Youth With Chronic Pain
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Sept. 16, 2024 -- Among youth with chronic pain, a number of individuals are diagnosed with anxiety and depression when compared with their peers without chronic pain, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Joanne Dudeney, Ph.D., from Macquarie University in Sydney, and colleagues reported the prevalence of clinical anxiety and depression for youth with chronic pain and compared symptoms of anxiety and depression between youth with and without chronic pain. Data were obtained from 79 studies, with 22,956 youth (12,614 with chronic pain).
The researchers found that the prevalence estimate of anxiety diagnoses was 34.6 percent, and 23.9 percent exceeded clinical cutoff scores. The prevalence of depression diagnoses was 12.2 percent; 23.5 percent exceeded clinical cutoff scores. Compared with controls, youth with chronic pain had greater symptoms of anxiety and depression (g = 0.61 and 0.74, respectively). Anxiety and depression may be moderated by sex, age, pain location, and recruitment sample. For all outcomes, there was considerable heterogeneity.
"It is imperative that anxiety and depression be considered alongside pain and disability when assessing younger people with chronic pain and, if relevant, that younger people be provided access to timely psychological care to improve pain outcomes alongside mental health," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
Systemic Social Factors May Increase the Risk of Psychotic Experiences
TUESDAY, June 10, 2025 -- Experiences with discrimination may increase the risk of psychotic experiences among marginalized young adults, according to a study published online May...
Drop in Mental Health Scores Seen With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Diagnosis
MONDAY, June 9, 2025 -- Diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is associated with a reduction in mental health scores, according to a study published online June 5 in...
Less 'Experienced Weight Stigma' After Bariatric Surgery Aids Mental Health
FRIDAY, June 6, 2025 -- Experienced weight stigma (EWS) improves from pre- to post-metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), according to a study published online June 5 in Health...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.