Photo Credit: Tero Vesalainen

The following is a summary of “Mental Defeat Predicts Increased Suicide Risk in Chronic Pain: A 12-Month Prospective Study,” published in the January 2025 issue of Pain by Themelis et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the role of mental defeat in predicting future suicide risk and to examine whether depression influenced this relationship.  

They included 340 participants with chronic pain who completed questionnaires at 2-time points, 12 months apart. Data collected consisted of sociodemographic and pain characteristics, mental defeat, psychosocial risk factors (including depression), and health-related variables. Weighted univariate and multivariable analyses evaluated the link between mental defeat and suicide risk, with a moderation analysis testing depression’s role.  

The results showed higher levels of mental defeat and depression associated with an increased suicide risk at 12 months. Depression significantly enhanced the effect of mental defeat on suicide risk, especially in individuals with high depression levels (B = 0.06, SE = 0.01, t = 6.21, P < 0.001) compared to moderate (B = 0.05, SE = 0.01, t = 5.20, P < 0.001) or low depression levels (B = 0.04, SE = 0.01, t = 2.83, P = 0.004), indicating a dose–response effect.  

Investigators concluded the mental defeat and depression concurrently within treatment plans might be crucial for mitigating suicide risk in individuals experiencing chronic pain, given the significant role of mental defeat in exacerbating suicide risk, particularly in conjunction with depression. 

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.4779