Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Nov;55(8):1298-1304.
doi: 10.1007/s10597-019-00403-x. Epub 2019 May 16.

Self-Reported Pain Intensity and Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Jessica M Brooks  1   2 , John Blake  3 , Jennifer Sánchez  4 , Elias Mpofu  5 , Jia-Rung Wu  6 , Xiangli Chen  6 , Jonathan Nauser  3 , Brandi P Cotton  7 , Stephen J Bartels  8   9   10
Affiliations

Self-Reported Pain Intensity and Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Jessica M Brooks et al. Community Ment Health J. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Older adults with schizophrenia have some of the highest rates of both medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Despite this, little is known about comorbid pain and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia research. This study aimed to examine the associations between levels of pain intensity and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Recruited from U.S. community mental health centers, participants reported on pain and depressive symptoms at the onset of the Helping Older People Experience Success (HOPES) study. Unadjusted and adjusted regression analyses were conducted. Higher pain intensity was associated with elevated depressive symptoms in all analyses, which is consistent with other studies in the general population. Given the widespread efforts to manage pain and related mental health complications in older adults without serious mental illnesses, it is likewise important that community-based mental health professionals monitor and address intense pain and related depressive symptoms among older adults with schizophrenia.

Keywords: Depressive symptoms; Older adults; Pain intensity; Schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adams KB, Sanders S, & Auth EA (2004). Loneliness and depression in independent living retirement communities: Risk and resilience factors. Aging and Mental Health, 8, 475–485. 10.1080/13607860410001725054. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Almeida OP, Hankey GJ, Yeap BB, Golledge J, Norman PE, & Flicker L (2014). Mortality among people with severe mental disorders who reach old age: A longitudinal study of a community-representative sample of 37892 men. PLoS ONE, 9(10), 1–11. 10.1371/journal.pone.0111882. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Amtmann D, Kim J, Chung H, Bamer AM, Askew RL, Wu S, …, Johnson KL (2014). Comparing CESD-10, PHQ-9, and PROMIS depression instruments in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59, 220–229. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Armer J (1993). Elderly relocation to a congregate setting: Factors influencing adjustment. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 14, 157–172. - PubMed
    1. Atkinson M, Zibin S, & Chuang H (1997). Characterizing quality of life among patients with chronic mental illness: A critical examination of the self-report methodology. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 99–105. - PubMed

Publication types