Mental Health Outcomes in People with Chronic Pain During the first year of the COVID- 19 Pandemic
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global health systems and heightened psychological distress. While prior research suggests a bidirectional relationship between chronic pain and mental health, many investigations relied on cross-sectional data, limiting insight into how relationships evolved over time. We assessed the longitudinal impact of chronic pain and pre-existing mental health condition on general psychopathology throughout the first year of the pandemic.MethodsThis analysis was part of a broader online study of mental health during the first year of the pandemic. We focused on 2,211 participants who completed questionnaires with items on pain and mental health. Linear mixed-effects models examined effects of chronic pain, mental health conditions, and time on general psychopathology. ANOVAs evaluated the impact of pain condition type.ResultsAmong participants, 38.9% had chronic pain, and 52.9% had a history of a mental health condition. Chronic pain and mental health conditions were independently associated with higher general psychopathology scores, with no interactions. Longitudinal analyses revealed an interaction between Chronic Pain and Time, such that mental health improved over time in individuals without chronic pain, while mental health was stable in individuals with chronic pain. Further, high intensity pain was associated with worse mental health over time. Average mental health also differed as a function of type of chronic pain.ConclusionsChronic pain and pre-existing mental health conditions were independently associated with elevated psychopathology during the pandemic. While overall mental health improved over time, this was not observed among individuals with chronic pain, suggesting a sustained mental health burden in this population.
Authors: Titilola Akintola, Maya Joshi Delity, Nicole M. Antkiewicz, Cristan Farmer, Joyce Chung, Lauren Yvette Atlas
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4412664662