Nicknamed the “suicide disease,” complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating chronic condition that causes severe dysfunction in sensory, motor, and autonomic (self-regulating) nerve functions. It may cause the atrophy or wasting of the tissues in the affected area of the body or sometimes excessive hair growth. CRPS manifests as persistent pain and inflammation typically following trauma, surgery, or other medical events, such as stroke or heart attack. In 7 percent of cases, CRPS occurs without any preceding injury or surgery.
Approximately 200,000 individuals in the United States are estimated to be affected by CRPS each year. One study discovered that 49.3 percent of CRPS patients contemplated suicide, and the actual suicide attempt rate was 15.1 percent.
