Biological Stress Systems, Adverse Life Events, and the Improvement of Chronic Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain Across a 6-Year Follow-Up.
Dysfunction of biological stress systems and adverse life events, independently and in interaction, have been hypothesized to predict chronic pain persistence. Conversely, these factors may hamper the improvement of chronic pain. Longitudinal evidence is currently lacking. We examined whether: 1) function of biological stress systems, 2) adverse life events, and 3) their combination predict the improvement of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain. Subjects of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) with chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain at baseline (N = 665) were followed-up 2, 4, and 6 years later. The Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire was used to determine improvement (not meeting the criteria) of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain at follow-up. Baseline assessment of biological stress systems included function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (1-hour cortisol awakening response, evening level, and post dexamethasone level), the immune system (basal and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory markers), the autonomic nervous system (heart rate, pre-ejection period, SD of the normal-to-normal interval, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia). The number of adverse life events were assessed at baseline and 2-year follow-up using the List of Threatening Events Questionnaire. We showed that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system, and autonomic nervous system functioning and adverse life events were not associated with the improvement of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain, either as a main effect or in interaction. This longitudinal study could not confirm that biological stress system dysfunction and adverse life events affect the course of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain.



Biological stress systems and adverse life events are not associated with the improvement of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain over 6 years of follow-up. Other determinants should thus be considered in future research to identify in which persons pain symptoms will improve.
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: egeneraal@gmail.com.
Ellen
E
Generaal
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nicole
N
Vogelzangs
Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Gary J
GJ
Macfarlane
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Rinie
R
Geenen
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Johannes H
JH
Smit
Department of Biological Psychology, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eco J C N
EJ
de Geus
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Rehabilitation Medicine, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Joost
J
Dekker
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Brenda W J H
BW
Penninx
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D059350:Chronic Pain; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone
Chronic pain; autonomic nervous system; cortisol; inflammation; life change events