Dor crônica e suporte social: uma revisão narrativa

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is a health condition that can significantly affect individuals' quality of life, and is often associated with higher levels of emotional stress, low social support, and weakened family ties. In addition to physical suffering, the psychosocial consequences of chronic pain can aggravate the clinical picture, making it difficult to manage the condition. Considering these factors, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and chronic pain in patients with musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature was performed in the LILACS and PubMed databases, using the descriptors: “social support” AND “chronic pain” and (social support[MeSH Terms]) AND (chronic pain[MeSH Terms]), respectively. The search was conducted without data restrictions until June 2024, allowing the inclusion of studies published in any period within this time window. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 318 articles were initially identified. Of these, 67 studies were selected for detailed evaluation. After careful analysis, 23 publications were included in this review, based on the previously established inclusion and exclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: The association between social support and chronic pain remains a controversial topic in the literature. However, the vast majority of studies suggest a positive relationship between social support and the reduction of symptoms of anxiety, depression, catastrophic thoughts, functional disability, as well as improvements in psychological well-being and self-efficacy. These findings indicate that, when adequate, social support can reduce both the perception of pain and the interference of pain in patients' lives, contributing to better adaptation and quality of life.