Childhood neglect can increase chronic pain – study

Chronic pain affects millions of people in the UK (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Adverse experiences early on in life such as neglect can increase chronic pain and harmful effects of opioid painkillers such as morphine, research suggests.

The study by experts at the University of Dundee’s Consortium Against Pain InEquality (Cape) suggests exposure to neglect in early life increases vulnerability to pain and severe side effects of opioids in adulthood.