Anxiety disorder in elderly persons with chronic pain: frequency and associations

Abstract

Objectives: to evaluate the frequency of anxiety disorders in older elderly persons with chronic pain and identify associated factors. Method: a descriptive, analytical and cross section study of the "Projeto Longevos" ("Long-Lived Elderly Persons Project") was carried out, featuring elderly persons living in the community who were aged 80 or over. Older elderly persons with chronic pain were selected, and data regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and factors related to pain was gathered, especially with regard to the multidimensional nature of pain, according to the "Geriatric Pain Measure-p" (GPM-p). Self-perception of health was also recorded and functionality assessments were carried out, along with the screenings for depression and anxiety disorders, according to the Geriatric Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Associations were analyzed by Pearson correlation, the ANOVA Test and Tukey multiple comparisons. Results: the sample was composed of 41 elderly persons with a mean age of 85.7 years, most of whom were female, white, widowed and had a low education. A high prevalence of anxiety disorders was observed, being 53.6% and 68.3%, respectively, for trait and state anxiety. A significant, but not high, correlation was found between the anxiety trait and chronic pain according to the GPM-p (r=31.5%; p=0.048), and there was a significant and high correlation between the same type of anxiety and depression (r=61.3%; p<0.001). Conclusion: anxiety disorders were very prevalent in older elderly persons with chronic pain, and these correlated significantly with pain and depression, which could justify the need for varied multidisciplinary therapeutic measures against the persistent pain conditions of the elderly.

Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Predispose the Severity and Probability of the Neuropathic Component of Back Pain? A Crosssectional Study

“…For example, depression and high BMI (Odds increases the risk of chronic low back pain [9][10][11][12][13]. Correlation between traits of anxiety and pain is both significant and positive [7]. Likewise, cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive strain injuries, non-neutral postures and heavy loads (Awkward postures and loads heavier than RWL leads to pain agony), calcium, vitamin D (low Vitamin D levels and low bone mineral density leads to development of back pain among the menopausal women) and other nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances due to menopause and much more.…”

“…The subjective analyses of pain were based on the VAS scale and the objective analyses of pain were done through pain score through the Pain Detect Tool [2]. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD was detected with the GAD-7 tool [6][7][8][9][10][11]. The clinical data that were surveyed include medication history of the patients through prescription transcripts.…”

Multidimensional instruments validated in Brazil for pain evaluation in the elderly: narrative review

“…Pain intensity is a measure of assessment widely used in unidimensional instruments, being also components of multidimensional tools. The McGill pain questionnaire, developed by Melzack in 1975 22 , aimed to assess the qualitative dimensions of pain such as sensory, affective, temporal regarding duration, spatial distribution, and pain intensity 18,25,26 . The domains of this instrument are divided into 20 subgroups of words, from 1 to 10, referring to the sensitive questions, 11 to 15 affective questions, 16 general experiences of the individual, and 17 to 20 miscellaneous 21,27 .…”

“…The domains of this instrument are divided into 20 subgroups of words, from 1 to 10, referring to the sensitive questions, 11 to 15 affective questions, 16 general experiences of the individual, and 17 to 20 miscellaneous 21,27 . The evaluative measures adopted in this instrument are related to the experience of the elderly facing the painful condition, in addition to the neurophysiological aspects involved in pain perception 18,21,25 . Corroborating the Br-MPQ, the GPM instrument consists in assessing intensity (five items), disengagement (five items), walking (two items), vigorous activities (two items), other activities (three items), and these items are distribute at random at the time of the assessment 24,28 .…”

O perfil do idoso e análise das principais demandas em busca do apoio psicológico por idosos no Serviço Escola de Psicologia (SEPSI) da Universidade de Gurupi

“…5 Essas doenças podem acarretar uma perturbação funcional, bem como ansiedade, depressão e privação de sono, associados a dores crônicas. 6 Além disso, os transtornos de ansiedade e depressão são os que acometem os idosos com mais frequência, relacionado à compreensão de deficiência de auxílio social, bem como, inutilidade, intensificação de doenças crônicas, e perdas de papéis sociais, fatores que geram sofrimento psicológico e físico. 7 Em relação à depressão há profissionais da saúde que não priorizam os sintomas no envelhecimento, já que consideram como aspecto natural da velhice, e comorbidade em relação à sintomas físicos de outras doenças, fato que causa a infrequência de diagnósticos de depressão em idosos.…”