Pain (e.g., migraines, chronic pain) is not only associated with functional limitations, poor physical health, higher unemployment, and more frequent doctor visits, but it is also associated with more severe depression [74]. Individuals with primary diagnoses of mood disorders will often also report experiencing some type of secondary pain concerns [74]. Specifically, approximately 65% of depressed patients and 29% of bipolar patients report experiencing pain (e.g., migraine, chronic pain) [74, 75]. In bipolar disorder, perceptions of physical health, including bodily pain, physical functioning, and general health, are associated with worse course of illness [76]. This finding highlights that pain is considered a primary and important component of one’s physical health in mood disorders and demonstrates the importance of a treatment that targets mental and physical health outcomes in this clinical population.
