Anxiety and depression are more common in people living with PFP compared with the general population in the United Kingdom. Almost 50% of people with PFP are experiencing anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, a new study published in the journal Scandinavian Journal of Pain reports.
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional online survey to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among 400 people with self-reported PFP in the United Kingdom (age between 18 and 44 years) who were recruited through a tailored social media campaign using modified snowball sampling. Detailed information on demographics, previous treatment for both PFP and anxiety and depression, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) scores were collected.
The results showed that almost 49.5% and 20.8% people with PFP (HADS ≥8) experienced anxiety and depression, respectively. There was a small negative correlation between low AKPS scores and high levels of anxiety (r, −0.15; P<.001) and a small to medium negative correlation between low AKPS and higher levels of depression (r, −0.26; P<.001). The levels of anxiety (49.5 vs 5.9-7.8%) and depression (20.8 vs 3.3-7.8%) in patients with PFP were much higher versus those found in the general population.
Based on the finding of this study, researchers commented, “Our study cannot draw any causal link between anxiety and depression and PFP, but it highlights the strong association between the two conditions. Further additional studies focusing on the effects of psychological factors in PFP are warranted.”
