Study Finds Anger and Sense of Injustice Strongly Intensify Chronic Pain

Study Finds Anger and Sense of Injustice Strongly Intensify Chronic Pain
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A new international study has found that recurring anger and feelings of injustice may be more powerful drivers of chronic pain than psychological stress alone, underscoring the significant physical impact of unmanaged anger. The research, involving more than 700 individuals living with chronic pain, examined how patients experience anger, perceive unfairness related to their condition, and how these emotions shape their pain levels.

The study — conducted by researchers from Stanford, Boston, and Innsbruck universities — used latent profile analysis to identify different patterns of anger expression and coping styles. Findings showed that participants who reported moderate to high levels of anger and perceived injustice experienced more intense and widespread pain, alongside greater disability and psychological distress. Conversely, patients who were able to regulate their anger effectively reported less severe symptoms and showed better long-term improvement.

Lead author Gadi Gilam noted that while anger is a normal emotional response, its combination with a sense of injustice can trap individuals in a cycle of emotional and physical suffering that aggravates chronic pain. Researchers said anger patterns can predict future pain outcomes even after accounting for anxiety and depression, suggesting their potential as early diagnostic indicators.

The study highlights the need for treatment approaches that address emotional regulation and perceptions of injustice, including mindfulness-based therapies, emotional expression techniques, and compassion-focused interventions.