Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Fit for WorkDisabilityMusculoskeletal disordersSickness absence managementOccupational Health

Little evidence that antidepressants work for chronic pain

by Nic Paton 10 May 2023
by Nic Paton 10 May 2023 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

There is very little scientific proof that being prescribed antidepressants will help people with long-term chronic pain, a study has suggested, with researchers bemoaning the ‘shocking’ lack of hard evidence in this area.

The Cochrane review, led by scientists from several UK universities, including Southampton and Newcastle, examined 176 trials, including studying drugs such as Prozac and the antidepressant amitriptylin.

It concluded that there is, at best, only ‘moderate’ evidence for one drug helping, duloxetine, and even then only for short-term pain relief. Another drug, mirtazapine, had a moderate effect on mood and duloxetine, again, a small effect, it added. However, the study cautioned that it mostly looked at patients’ experience over a couple of months only.

The study raises questions about recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which in 2020 suggested that a range of commonly used painkillers for chronic pain, including paracetamol, could do more harm than good. It recommended instead that some antidepressants should be considered for people with chronic primary pain

For the latest study, the University of Southampton’s Professor Tamar Pincus said: “It’s really shocking that we don’t have any evidence for long-term use of even duloxetine.

“This is a global public-health concern. Chronic pain is a problem for millions who are prescribed antidepressants without sufficient scientific proof they help, nor an understanding of the long-term impact on health,” she added.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain in forties can lead to joblessness a decade later

Multiple long-term conditions more associated with chronic pain

However, Prof Pincus emphasised that the study’s findings did not mean patients should stop taking medication they have already been prescribed. “It does not mean that people should stop taking prescribed medication without consulting their GP,” she said.

NHS guidance, for example, recommends that, when coming off antidepressants, medication should be slowly reduced over weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Clinical lead for NICE’s chronic-pain guidelines Dr Cathy Stannard added: “This well-conducted review adds to the substantial evidence we now have that shows that the use of medicines to treat long-term pain is disappointing.”

However, it could be difficult to translate results from clinical trials to real life. “It’s equally important to emphasise the many social and psychological influences on the pain experience,” Dr Stannard said.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Existing services, usually outside healthcare, including support with mobility, debt management, trauma, and social isolation, can be helpful for people living with pain – and identifying what matters most to people and signposting to appropriate local support is a promising way forward,” she said.

Separately, a survey by the BBC of more than 4,000 adults has concluded a quarter (26%) are living with long-term pain. Of these 24% were taking opioid painkillers and 23% were stuck on NHS waiting lists for either surgery or a pain management programme.

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Managers not confident dealing with complaints from trans staff
next post
Strikes bill passes House of Lords after amendments

You may also like

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

Four ways employers can reduce the risk of...

14 May 2025

Data highlights positive link between group income support...

14 May 2025

Period pain and absence harm women’s pay and...

13 May 2025

Healthcare workers prioritise mental health support in new...

12 May 2025

Tool developed for employers to calculate cost of...

28 Apr 2025

Why employers must do more to support all...

24 Apr 2025

Half a million more now have access to...

23 Apr 2025

NHS urging people to check for cancer warning...

22 Apr 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today