Pain in the bipolar disorder: prevalence, characteristics and relationship with suicide risk

Abstract

Objective: to know the prevalence and characteristics of pain, to verify how pain management has been carried out by the health services, and to correlate suicide risk with pain intensity in patients with bipolar disorder. Method: an observational study with a quantitative approach. The study included people with bipolar disorder assessed by the McGill-Reduced Pain Questionnaire, Body Diagram, Visual Numerical Scale, and the Suicidal Ideation Scale (Beck). Results: the sample of 60 participants was mainly composed of women with a mean age of 40 years old and a mean psychiatric treatment time of approximately 13 years. Of these, 83% reported feeling pain at the time of the interview. Half of the participants indicated that pain interferes with routine and 80% did not receive care in health institutions. The main descriptors that qualify the painful experience were as follows: painful, heavy and sensitive for the sensory descriptors, tiring and punishing in the affective category. Suicide attempt was reported by 57% of the participants. There was a correlation between suicide risk and pain intensity. Conclusion: pain presented a high prevalence. Suicide risk was identified in more than half of the participants. Pain intensity showed a significant correlation with suicide risk.

Global trends and hotspots in pain associated with bipolar disorder in the last 20 years: a bibliometric analysis

“…Patients suffering from bipolar disorder and chronic pain typically exhibit poor responses to treatment and face an elevated risk of suicide ( 7 , 36 ). A study assessing the relationship between pain and bipolar disorder suggests incorporating pain assessments as a part of routine care for bipolar patients ( 7 ). Adequate treatment of these patients requires an interdisciplinary approach.…”

“…The most-cited references in the exercise (#0; cluster size-64) were Stubbs, B_2015 (20), Vancampfort, D_2015 (11), Correll, CU_2017 (10), Vancampfort, D_2016 (10), Stubbs, B_2014 (7). Cluster #0 explores the correlation between pain and bipolar disorder (BP).…”

“…A large-scale (N = 106,214) meta-analysis suggests that 23.7% of BD patients may have chronic pain, and this seems to be related to sleep disorders and delayed diagnosis of BD Individuals with Bipolar Disorder and concurrent chronic pain encounter challenges, as comorbid pain significantly impacts their quality of life. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder and chronic pain typically exhibit poor responses to treatment and face an elevated risk of suicide (7,36). A study assessing the relationship between pain and bipolar disorder suggests incorporating pain assessments as a part of routine care for bipolar patients (7).…”

“…The cyclical nature and emotional fluctuations of the disorder pose significant harm to patients, who may exhibit high-risk behaviors during manic phases and experience profound sadness and despair during depressive episodes. Approximately 25–50% of patients may attempt suicide, and about 15% may die by suicide ( 6 , 7 ). Moreover, Bipolar Disorder is also associated with a higher comorbidity rate ( 8 ), including cardiovascular diseases ( 9 ), endocrine disorders ( 10 ), and metabolic syndrome ( 11 ).…”

Tentativas reincidentes de autoextermínio em paciente com múltiplos transtornos psiquiátricos: entraves a um bom diagnóstico

“…Manifestado, geralmente, na juventude, demora para ser diagnosticado e tratado da forma esperada, sendo que o risco de uma tentativa de suicídio nesses pacientes é o dobro da população de maneira geral. Outro fator importante a ser considerado é que pacientes com bipolaridade possuem dificuldade de perceber seus sintomas clínicos, bem como a percepção do estado mental de outros, o que pode ser indicativo de déficit metacognitivo em pacientes com TAB 12,13 . Diante disso, mesmo com um diagnóstico confirmado há alguns anos, E.A.R não apresentava sintomas típicos de TAB, somente os quadros depressivos, dessa maneira, é válido reavaliar o seu diagnóstico, a fim de elucidar a sua patologia.…”