A pain disorder can occur at any age. It is likely to cause problems at work and at home. People with pain disorder may have an increased risk for drug or alcohol abuse. Pain disorder is more common in people with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder. It is also more common in people with anxiety disorders.
Pain disorder can be either acute or chronic.
Acute means that something happens suddenly. Chronic means that something happens over a long period of time. People with the acute form of this disorder generally end up getting over the pain. People with the chronic form may struggle with it for years. These people often require referrals to clinics that specialize in the treatment of chronic pain.