Trigger warning: This episode deals with the topic of suicide.
Dan and I have an interesting and important discussion that bridges the gap between patients’ clear and obvious frustrations with how different versions of “it’s in your head” affect them and providers’ lack of awareness around the issue. How can this be the case? And how does being told pain is in your head possibly increase suicidal thoughts by 500-1200%? We explain how it occurs and compare it to what we’d accept from other therapies.
Chronic pain patients have a 25% likelihood of suicidal thoughts in the last 2 weeks. If how we explain pain increases that risk in as few as 5% of patients, we might need to think of another explanation.
If you are a patient who has had suicidal ideation recently, please reach out to one of the below suicide support lines in the show notes. We need you.
Resources:
Suicide support lines:
Australia - Lifeline 13 11 14 or call 000
USA & Canada - Suicide Crisis and Lifeline 988, or The Crisis text line 741 741
United Kingdom -Suicide Prevention Helpline 0800 689 5652 or Emergency services on 999 or the NHS on 111
Finland - MIELI Crisis Helpline 09 2525 0116
Timestamps:
0:00 Official Intro
00:17 Intro
02:30 Dan's side
05:04 Iatrogenic Psychological Harm
08:28 Young vs Older Patients
09:57 Chronic Fatigue Syndrom
13:16 Obvious to patients, not to providers
16:26 Illness Behavior
21:38 The harm - suicide risk
22:08 Patrick Ryan
27:37 Matthew Burke
31:19 Somatic symptoms and hopelessness
34:03 Bring it together
40:33 Pain Neuroscience
45:09 Wrap Up
47:28 Disclaimer
Trigger warning: This episode deals with the topic of suicide.
Dan and I have an interesting and important discussion that bridges the gap between patients’ clear and obvious frustrations with how different versions of “it’s in your head” affect them and providers’ lack of awareness around the issue. How can this be the case? And how does being told pain is in your head possibly increase suicidal thoughts by 500-1200%? We explain how it occurs and compare it to what we’d accept from other therapies.
Chronic pain patients have a 25% likelihood of suicidal thoughts in the last 2 weeks. If how we explain pain increases that risk in as few as 5% of patients, we might need to think of another explanation.
If you are a patient who has had suicidal ideation recently, please reach out to one of the below suicide support lines in the show notes. We need you.
Resources:
Suicide support lines:
Australia - Lifeline 13 11 14 or call 000
USA & Canada - Suicide Crisis and Lifeline 988, or The Crisis text line 741 741
United Kingdom -Suicide Prevention Helpline 0800 689 5652 or Emergency services on 999 or the NHS on 111
Finland - MIELI Crisis Helpline 09 2525 0116
Timestamps:
0:00 Official Intro
00:17 Intro
02:30 Dan's side
05:04 Iatrogenic Psychological Harm
08:28 Young vs Older Patients
09:57 Chronic Fatigue Syndrom
13:16 Obvious to patients, not to providers
16:26 Illness Behavior
21:38 The harm - suicide risk
22:08 Patrick Ryan
27:37 Matthew Burke
31:19 Somatic symptoms and hopelessness
34:03 Bring it together
40:33 Pain Neuroscience
45:09 Wrap Up
47:28 Disclaimer