University of Portsmouth study finds link between depression and post-surgery pain

The study, which analysed a wide range of research, was conducted by Dr Nils Niederstrasser. It has since been published in the Journal of Pain along with co-author Dr Stephanie Cook of De Montfort University, Leicester.

The study explored the relationship between low mood and fear before undergoing knee and hip replacement surgery and a patient’s recovery afterwards.

In the UK roughly nine million people aged 45 or over experience joint pain due to osteoarthritis.

Dr Niederstrasser stated: ‘Chronic joint pain is exceedingly common with roughly one in every five people in the UK who are 45 or older having sought treatment for knee osteoarthritis alone.

‘We’ve found even modest depression, anxiety and catastrophising are robust predictors of whether a patient later experiences improvements in terms of pain relief and ability to move the joint.’

According to his research, experiencing depressive symptoms such as low mood, reduced motivation and anxiety along with reduced activity levels can potentially stunt recovery and is shown to cause a much higher chance of pain after the surgery.

Dr Niederstrasser said: ‘The worst thing you can do after surgery is to sit on the couch and wait for things to heal and get better by themselves. You need to get up and move once it is safe to do so, which includes engaging in exercises and activities.’

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The study showed that avoiding movement and rehabilitation exercises for fear of experiencing pain can actually lead to prolonging the pain, and actively disrupt the healing process.

Dr Niederstrasser added: ‘If you are afraid of pain or in your mind pain is linked with catastrophe, or if your mood is low and you can’t bear the thought of having to suffer through rehabilitation exercises or even the pain that you will experience when you stand up, then you are less likely to engage in any such activity.’

He also stressed the importance of doctors considering people who may suffer with these symptoms when planning post-operation care for their patients, something which he said is not currently being adequately focused on.

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