Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health

Abstract We aimed to investigate the association between psychotropic drug use (proxy for psychological health) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type 1 and type 2 in upper and lower limbs. We also assessed the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors. From a national record linkage d...

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Main Authors: Lars B. Dahlin, Raquel Perez, Erika Nyman, Malin Zimmerman, Juan Merlo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09701-9
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author Lars B. Dahlin
Raquel Perez
Erika Nyman
Malin Zimmerman
Juan Merlo
author_facet Lars B. Dahlin
Raquel Perez
Erika Nyman
Malin Zimmerman
Juan Merlo
author_sort Lars B. Dahlin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We aimed to investigate the association between psychotropic drug use (proxy for psychological health) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type 1 and type 2 in upper and lower limbs. We also assessed the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors. From a national record linkage database [4,706,821 individuals (25–64 years); CRPS type 1 = 809; type 2 = 225], prevalence ratios (PR), absolute risk (AR), and AR difference (ARD) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] were estimated by logistic and Cox regressions with constant time at risk. About 36% of CRPS individuals consumed psychotropic drugs (reference: general population 15%). Unadjusted PRs were two times higher in nerve injuries/disorders without CRPS [PR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.73–1.82] and CRPS type 1 [2.33 (2.07–2.62)] and almost three times higher in CRPS type 2 [2.79 (2.27–3.42)]. Higher ARDs were observed in type 2, independent of level of income, and were higher for the high-income category. In type 2, ARDs were higher for middle-high/high occupational status levels. Higher ARDs were observed in nerve injuries/nerve disorders, CRPS type 1, and type 2 in immigrants, especially high for type 2. Regarding most age intervals, ARDs were higher for individuals with CRPS type 2. Individuals with CRPS, especially type 2, have high risk of impaired psychological health.
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spelling doaj-art-b2c1b6fd01c04c2295ada48644cf80fb2025-08-20T03:43:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-09701-9Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological healthLars B. Dahlin0Raquel Perez1Erika Nyman2Malin Zimmerman3Juan Merlo4Department of Translational Medicine – Hand Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of Translational Medicine – Hand Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping UniversityDepartment of Translational Medicine – Hand Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalUnit for Social Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences (Malmö), Faculty of Medicine, Lund UniversityAbstract We aimed to investigate the association between psychotropic drug use (proxy for psychological health) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type 1 and type 2 in upper and lower limbs. We also assessed the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors. From a national record linkage database [4,706,821 individuals (25–64 years); CRPS type 1 = 809; type 2 = 225], prevalence ratios (PR), absolute risk (AR), and AR difference (ARD) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] were estimated by logistic and Cox regressions with constant time at risk. About 36% of CRPS individuals consumed psychotropic drugs (reference: general population 15%). Unadjusted PRs were two times higher in nerve injuries/disorders without CRPS [PR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.73–1.82] and CRPS type 1 [2.33 (2.07–2.62)] and almost three times higher in CRPS type 2 [2.79 (2.27–3.42)]. Higher ARDs were observed in type 2, independent of level of income, and were higher for the high-income category. In type 2, ARDs were higher for middle-high/high occupational status levels. Higher ARDs were observed in nerve injuries/nerve disorders, CRPS type 1, and type 2 in immigrants, especially high for type 2. Regarding most age intervals, ARDs were higher for individuals with CRPS type 2. Individuals with CRPS, especially type 2, have high risk of impaired psychological health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09701-9
spellingShingle Lars B. Dahlin
Raquel Perez
Erika Nyman
Malin Zimmerman
Juan Merlo
Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
Scientific Reports
title Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
title_full Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
title_fullStr Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
title_full_unstemmed Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
title_short Complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
title_sort complex regional pain syndrome and use of psychotropic drugs as a proxy for psychological health
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09701-9
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