Disentangling the relationship between depression and chronic widespread pain: A Mendelian randomisation study

Zhao, Sizheng Steven ORCID: 0000-0002-3558-7353, Holmes, Michael V and Alam, Uazman ORCID: 0000-0002-3190-1122 (2023) Disentangling the relationship between depression and chronic widespread pain: A Mendelian randomisation study. SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM, 60. 152188-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152188

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>Depression and chronic widespread pain (CWP) frequently coexist, but whether depression is an independent causal risk factor for CWP, and/or vice versa, remains unclear. We investigated the bidirectional causal relationship between depression and CWP.<h4>Methods</h4>We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) study to estimate the causal relationship between genetically predicted depression (170,756 cases, 329,443 controls) and risk of CWP (6,914 cases, 242,929 controls), and the effect of CWP on depression susceptibility, using large population-level genetic data. We used a new MR method, Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect estimates (CAUSE), which allows for sample overlap, in addition to traditional MR and sensitivity analyses.<h4>Results</h4>For each doubling in odds of genetic liability to depression, the risk of chronic widespread pain was increased (OR 1.004, 95% credible interval 1.003-1.005; p = 7.3 × 10<sup>-5</sup> that the causal model is a better fit than non-causal model). There was bidirectional evidence of causality, with genetic liability to chronic widespread pain increasing depression susceptibility (OR 2.31; 95%CrI 1.57, 3.40; p = 0.0026 that the causal model is a better fit). Other MR methods produced concordant results.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study provides evidence in support of a bidirectional causal relationship between depression and increased risk of chronic widespread pain, whilst overcoming the major limitations of previous epidemiological studies. Interventions for depression may be an effective strategy to prevent or reduce the burden of chronic widespread pain and vice versa.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Chronic widespread pain, Depression, Mendelian randomisation, Fibromyalgia, Mental health
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Clinical Directorate
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	18 May 2023 10:35
Last Modified:	06 Sep 2023 18:38
DOI:	10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152188
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152188
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170485