Examining Mental Health, Education, Employment, and Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Pain affects sickle cell disease (SCD) patients’ quality of life and functional ability. Βut what is the association of educational attainment, employment status, and mental health with pain episode frequency and severity among individuals with SCD?

The findings of a recent study, conducted in 2264 individuals with SCD in the US and published in JAMA, suggest that neither the severity nor the frequency of pain is associated with the level of education or the economic status of patients with SCD. However, it has been found that older adults and female patients reported more severe and frequent pain episodes compared to younger and male patients, respectively.

Another interesting finding that should raise suspicion for further evaluation is that depression was associated with more frequently reported pain episodes. Healthcare providers should not overlook the neurologic, psychological, and social aspects of chronic pain in SCD patients and have greater suspicion of assessing and understanding the inter-relationship between depression and SCD-related pain.