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Depression increases the risk of myalgia, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis, while osteoarthritis in turn raises the risk of depression, indicating a bidirectional causal relationship.
A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study led by Xiupan Wei et al. has uncovered compelling genetic evidence connecting depression with several myalgia-related disorders, including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. The findings highlighted a complex, two-way connection between mental health and musculoskeletal pain ailments.
Xiupan Wei and other researchers analyzed genetic data from a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 170,756 individuals diagnosed with depression and 329,443 control subjects. Using advanced statistical methods, including inverse variance-weighted Mendelian randomization and complementary sensitivity analyses, the team examined whether depression causally influences the risk of 5 myalgia-related disorders and vice versa.
The findings revealed that genetic predisposition to depression markedly heightens the risk of myalgia (general muscle pain), fibromyalgia (a chronic pain syndrome), and osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease). Specifically, those with a genetic liability to depression had a 47% higher odds of myalgia, over twice the odds of developing fibromyalgia, and a 24% higher odds of osteoarthritis. No pivotal causal relationships were detected for myositis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Importantly, the study also explored the reverse effect and found that osteoarthritis may genetically amplify the risk of depression, indicating a bidirectional causal link. However, no evidence supported a similar reverse link for the other pain-related conditions studied. These findings highlight the intertwined nature of mental health and chronic pain disorders, emphasizing the requisition for integrated clinical approaches. Timely diagnosis and treatment of depression may not only boost psychological well-being but also curtail the risk or severity of debilitating musculoskeletal ailments.
Journal of Affective Disorders
Causal association between depression and myalgia-related disorders: A bidirectional mendelian randomization study
Xiupan Wei et al.
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