Chronic pain and suicide ideation have been shown to be strongly related. However, recent research shows that chronic pain is usually a secondary cause of suicide ideation. One of the chief intermediary factors is the severe effect that chronic pain has on limiting mobility. Being unable to move around comfortably, constantly being constrained by pain, being unable to enjoy normal sexual relations with one's spouse or carrying one's children without fear of injury leaves a damaging mark on the sufferer's emotions. Patients with depression are also heightened in their perception of pain, and will very often be reluctant to carry out treatment modules provided to them for fear of encountering more pain.
Marital conflicts develop and escalate.
As depression sets in, chronic pain patients tend to become more angry, easily frustrated, often moody, and plagued with feelings of hopelessness. Sufferers of chronic pain often misperceive the degree of recovery they achieve with therapy. Some underestimate their recovery and become progressively inactive, often avoiding pain altogether. They fail to distinguish hurt from harm, and shrink away from treatment that may bring about some degree of pain. Others tend to overestimate their recovery, often injuring themselves repeatedly by carrying out tasks too difficult for them.