Final answer:
Patients with chronic pain often experience comorbid symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. These interrelated symptoms can create a cycle where pain exacerbates depression and anxiety, which in turn leads to more sleep issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
58% of patients with chronic pain experience coexisting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, which are all interconnected and can exacerbate each other. Chronic pain can lead to depression, as patients may feel hopeless and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Additionally, chronic pain can cause anxiety, as patients worry about their condition and its implications for their future. This anxiety can then lead to sleep disturbances, as the increased arousal makes it more difficult to fall asleep, thus creating a self-perpetuating cycle. A patient with chronic insomnia may experience symptoms such as feeling overtired, which is associated with depression. Furthermore, anxiety disorders are common mental disorders and can be associated with chronic pain, as can sleep disorders affecting a significant portion of the population. The experiences of Patient B, which include difficulty sleeping and increased heart rate, are indicative of the complex interplay between these symptoms.