When gout causes repeated episodes of pain, it is called chronic gouty arthritis. People with this condition experience constant joint pain and are more likely to develop depression than people who are well. “It is important to make a distinction between acute pain, where there is a cause and an end in sight, and chronic pain,” says Robert L. Trestman, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. “People with severe forms of arthritis, like chronic gout, live with the fear and anxiety of not knowing when their pain will end. Chronic pain can overwhelm their coping skills and lead to withdrawal, isolation, and depression.” Chronic Gout Pain and Depression The pain experienced by someone with an arthritis condition like chronic gout is more than just the painful sensation. … Read entire article »