Depression Higher Among Back Pain Sufferers?

Clinical evidence in the past has shown that depression among people with chronic pain was around 20 to 30%. The general population has an average incidence of major depression that is around 5%. A recent study done in June of 2007 shows that 61% of chronic back pain sufferers now suffer from depression. This is a giant increase in a not so large amount of time. Treating depression is done in many ways, involving lifestyle changes, professional counseling, and support groups. Then there's the medication route, including anti-depressants like , Lexapro, Effexor XR, Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. The fact that people with chronic pain and/or back pain have depression, is no surprise really. Having continuous pain will likely drain anyone physically, emotionally, and mentally, making everyday normalcy's nearly impossible to maintain. Most impressive, is that most of these people are reporting their own depression, indicating that depression among the back pain population is under-diagnosed, and that more medical professionals treating patients with back pain should be looking out for symptoms of depression in those patients.