Chronic pancreatitis, depression and substance use disorders: A not uncommon combination

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive and debilitating disease. A potentially important consideration is the relationship between CP, depression and substance use disorders, which seems to be circular and multiplicative. Pain management is a critical component of intervention, and it would seem that in the context of chronic illness this requires a biopsychosocial approach aiming for a tailored intervention that strikes an appropriate therapeutic balance.