New Research Reveals an Overlooked Link Between ADHD and Chronic Pain

If you struggle with chronic pain that isn't responsive to conventional treatments, you may have long suspected there might be something deeper going on.

The new study led by researchers at the University of Tokyo found that ADHD-related traits were 2.4 times more common in chronic pain patients than in the general population. It involved nearly 1,000 patients being treated at specialized pain centers across Japan. Researchers examined how often ADHD- and autism-related traits were present in this population and how those traits related to pain severity.

ADHD-related traits were significantly more common in chronic pain patients, and those traits were closely linked to how severe the pain was. But the connection wasn't direct. Instead, ADHD traits appeared to impact how people perceive pain through increased anxiety, depression, and negative ways of thinking about pain.

If ADHD traits are so common in chronic pain patients, why hasn't this been recognized before? The answer lies in how both conditions are typically diagnosed and treated.

Many adults with ADHD are undiagnosed. ADHD is often thought of as a childhood condition, and adults who have it may not recognize the signs in themselves. Even when they seek help for issues like chronic pain, ADHD often doesn't come to mind in diagnosis.

Meanwhile, chronic pain treatment has historically focused on physical health, using medications, procedures, and interventions targeting the body. The idea that neurological traits like ADHD could be contributing to pain severity has never been a standard part of the conversation.

These findings support a broader shift in how scientists understand chronic pain. Pain is not merely physical in nature: mental and neurological traits may play a larger role than previously thought.

For people with ADHD-related traits, the connection to chronic pain appears to work through psychological factors. Anxiety amplifies the brain's threat response. Depression can lower pain thresholds. And negative thought patterns, like catastrophizing or ruminating, can make pain feel inescapable.

This doesn't mean the pain isn't real. It just means the physical component is only part of the picture, and that mental health care may open up new avenues for treatment.

If ADHD-related traits are contributing to chronic pain, then addressing those traits could help reduce pain severity.

Approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rehabilitation programs that include exercise have been widely used and are considered effective in improving anxiety, depression, and negative ways of thinking about pain, which in turn can help reduce chronic pain, Kasahara explained.

Chronic pain is complex, and there's rarely a single solution. But understanding the full picture, including the role your brain plays in how you experience pain, is a step toward finding relief. If you're living with chronic pain that hasn't responded to conventional treatments, this research offers a new lens. It's worth considering whether ADHD or other mental health traits could be playing a role.