Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy
Background : Lumbar radiculopathy, marked by radiating lower back pain and neurological deficits, is often complicated by psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression. While nerve blocks and opioid analgesics are common treatments, their comparative effects on mental health outcomes re...
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Korean Association for the Study of Pain, Korean Pain Intervention Society
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Pain |
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| Online Access: | http://painresearch.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.56718/ijp.25-008 |
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| author | Ashley Deng Liying Wei Eduardo Espiridion |
| author_facet | Ashley Deng Liying Wei Eduardo Espiridion |
| author_sort | Ashley Deng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background : Lumbar radiculopathy, marked by radiating lower back pain and neurological deficits, is often complicated by psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression. While nerve blocks and opioid analgesics are common treatments, their comparative effects on mental health outcomes remain unclear. Methods : This study examines the impact of nerve blocks versus opioids on the development of anxiety and depression in patients with lumbar radiculopathy using the TriNetX database. Two matched cohorts of adult patients (n = 48,936 each) were identified based on treatment type: nerve blocks or opioid analgesics. Propensity score matching accounted for demographics, comorbidities, and medication history. Odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to assess the incidence and time-to-onset of anxiety (ICD-10 F41.9) and major depressive disorder (ICD-10 F33). Results : The nerve block group had significantly lower odds of developing anxiety (OR: 0.401, 95% CI: 0.384-0.418) and depression (OR: 0.542, 95% CI: 0.506-0.581) compared to the opioid group. Time-to-event analysis further showed decreased hazard ratios for anxiety (HR: 0.554, 95% CI: 0.532-0.577, P = 0.026) and depression (HR: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.692-0.794, P < 0.001) in the nerve block cohort. Conclusions: These findings suggest nerve blocks may lower the risk and delay the onset of anxiety and depression in lumbar radiculopathy, highlighting their potential mental health advantages over opioids. Future studies should explore integrative pain management approaches that prioritize both physical and psychological well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a70d896b4d8e4673abffff767f3676ea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2233-4793 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Korean Association for the Study of Pain, Korean Pain Intervention Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Pain |
| spelling | doaj-art-a70d896b4d8e4673abffff767f3676ea2025-08-20T03:29:58ZengKorean Association for the Study of Pain, Korean Pain Intervention SocietyInternational Journal of Pain2233-47932025-06-01161344110.56718/ijp.25-008ijp.25-008Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar RadiculopathyAshley Deng0Liying Wei1Eduardo Espiridion2Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USADrexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Reading Tower Health Hospital, West Reading, PA, USABackground : Lumbar radiculopathy, marked by radiating lower back pain and neurological deficits, is often complicated by psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression. While nerve blocks and opioid analgesics are common treatments, their comparative effects on mental health outcomes remain unclear. Methods : This study examines the impact of nerve blocks versus opioids on the development of anxiety and depression in patients with lumbar radiculopathy using the TriNetX database. Two matched cohorts of adult patients (n = 48,936 each) were identified based on treatment type: nerve blocks or opioid analgesics. Propensity score matching accounted for demographics, comorbidities, and medication history. Odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to assess the incidence and time-to-onset of anxiety (ICD-10 F41.9) and major depressive disorder (ICD-10 F33). Results : The nerve block group had significantly lower odds of developing anxiety (OR: 0.401, 95% CI: 0.384-0.418) and depression (OR: 0.542, 95% CI: 0.506-0.581) compared to the opioid group. Time-to-event analysis further showed decreased hazard ratios for anxiety (HR: 0.554, 95% CI: 0.532-0.577, P = 0.026) and depression (HR: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.692-0.794, P < 0.001) in the nerve block cohort. Conclusions: These findings suggest nerve blocks may lower the risk and delay the onset of anxiety and depression in lumbar radiculopathy, highlighting their potential mental health advantages over opioids. Future studies should explore integrative pain management approaches that prioritize both physical and psychological well-being.http://painresearch.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.56718/ijp.25-008opioid analgesicsdepressionnerve blocklumbar radiculopathyanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Ashley Deng Liying Wei Eduardo Espiridion Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy International Journal of Pain opioid analgesics depression nerve block lumbar radiculopathy anxiety |
| title | Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy |
| title_full | Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy |
| title_short | Assessing Nerve Block and Opioid Analgesics on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy |
| title_sort | assessing nerve block and opioid analgesics on anxiety and depression in patients with lumbar radiculopathy |
| topic | opioid analgesics depression nerve block lumbar radiculopathy anxiety |
| url | http://painresearch.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.56718/ijp.25-008 |
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