BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anxious and depressive disorders very often follow with chronic painful conditions and are associated to a range of negative outcomes. In spite of this association, both pain and these disorders are often inadequately managed, leading to labor incapacity, worsening of health and quality of life and increased health costs. A review was carried out of therapeutic actions of omega-3 (w-3) fatty acids to treat chronic pain patients with anxious and depressive symptoms. CONTENTS: Studies are showing that anxious and depressive symptoms contribute to worsen pain and that chronic pain contributes for such disorders. It is possible that substances able to decrease pain may also relieve anxious and depressive symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids may act on neuroprotection and mood stabilization, and may even decrease the inflammatory status common in chronic pain. Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of fatty acids in patients with anxious and depressive symptoms and chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with w-3 fatty acids for chronic pain patients with anxious and depressive symptoms may be an effective strategy to improve both such symptoms and pain.
Anxiety; Chronic pain; Depression; Omega-3