Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Outcomes of Interventional Pain Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Cureus. 2026 May 18;18(5):e109090. doi: 10.7759/cureus.109090. eCollection 2026 May.
ABSTRACT
Background Psychiatric comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are common in patients with chronic pain and may adversely affect pain perception and treatment response. Their impact on outcomes following interventional pain procedures remains insufficiently characterized.
Objective To assess the effect of baseline psychiatric comorbidities on clinical outcomes after interventional pain procedures.
Methods This retrospective cohort study included 100 patients who underwent interventional pain procedures between 2023 and 2025 at a tertiary pain center. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of documented psychiatric diagnoses. The primary outcome was the change in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score at three months. Secondary outcomes included functional improvement and changes in opioid consumption. Continuous variables were analyzed using Student's t-test and categorical variables using chi-square testing, with significance defined as p < 0.05.
Results Among 100 patients, 46 had psychiatric comorbidities, and 54 did not. Patients without psychiatric diagnoses demonstrated significantly greater reductions in pain scores compared to those with psychiatric conditions (mean reduction 3.4 vs. 2.1, t = 2.61, df = 98, p = 0.01). Functional improvement was significantly more common among patients without psychiatric comorbidities versus those with psychiatric conditions (72% vs. 48%, χ2 = 5.94, p = 0.01). Opioid reduction was also significantly more frequent in the non-psychiatric group (56% vs. 32%, χ2 = 5.76, p = 0.02).
Conclusions Baseline psychiatric comorbidities are associated with diminished clinical improvement following interventional pain procedures. Integrating psychological assessment and multidisciplinary care may enhance treatment outcomes in this population.
PMID:42317932 | PMC:PMC13273782 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.109090