The conclusion belongs to new scientific investigation

Feb 13, 2014 13:47 GMT  ·  By
Many depressed teens are plagued by chronic pain, a new study shows
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   Many depressed teens are plagued by chronic pain, a new study shows

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), led by professor Marit Sæbø Indredavik, have established in a new study that adolescents, teens, and young adults who suffer from depression or depressive symptoms are very likely to experience chronic pains as well. 

This research is the first ever conducted on the physical effects that mental illnesses have on patients in this age group. Previous studies focused exclusively on adults and seniors, since scientists believed that these groups were the most severely affected. The new investigation shows that this may not be the case.

Indredavik says that mental health care professionals around the world tend to not appreciate the types of chronic pains that affect depressed young people to their fullest extent. This leads to underdiagnosed conditions that can evolve poorly over time, PsychCentral reports.

“Physical pain is most common among young people who have conditions such as anxiety and depression, where they tend to be more focused on their problems. This is not a surprise, but it is a clear signal that we need to keep this in mind when treating mental health problems,” the team leader says.

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Many depressed teens are plagued by chronic pain, a new study shows
Many depressed teens are plagued by chronic pain, a new study shows
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