Chronic Pain and PTSD: Evolving Views on Their Comorbidity

Purpose This paper presents a literature review of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its link to chronic pain. Design and Methods Twenty-four papers are reviewed (included research and reviews), with the goal of improving and updating our understanding on this issue and its theoretical and clinical repercussions. Findings The tight interdependence of symptoms that can be observed in both PTSD and chronic pain syndromes lends support to the idea that these disorders both constitute a reactive disorder. Practice Implications Various forms of therapy and treatment focus on PTSD, but chronic pain symptoms must also be assessed.