Trigeminal Neuralgia and Mental Health: Groundbreaking Study Shows Two-Way Link
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare neurological condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain, often triggered by everyday activities such as brushing teeth, eating, or even speaking. Although it is classified as a physical nerve disorder, a new study has confirmed what many patients have long reported: the intense mental health impact of TN must no longer be ignored.
In April 2025, a peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain (Vol. 26, Article 74) offered compelling evidence of a bidirectional relationship between trigeminal neuralgia and mental health disorders. This means not only can depression, anxiety, and insomnia increase the risk of TN, but people with TN are also more likely to develop these mental health conditions.
What Did the Study Find about Trigeminal Neuralgia and Mental Health
The study, led by a team of researchers at the China–Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, followed 154 TN patients and used validated mental health tools (PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and ISI for insomnia) to assess their well-being. The more widespread and long-standing their TN symptoms were, the more likely they were to experience severe psychological distress.
The researchers then used Mendelian randomisation, a scientific method that uses genetic markers to test cause and effect. This allowed them to examine whether TN causes mental illness or whether mental illness can lead to TN. The answer, remarkably, was both.
“Longer disease duration and broader trigeminal nerve involvement were independently associated with increased severity of depressive, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms, highlighting the importance of early clinical intervention in patients with TN.”
— The Journal of Headache and Pain, 2025
Why This Matters to Patients in the UK
At TNA UK, we frequently hear from members who describe the crushing emotional toll of TN. They often say the pain is unbearable, but the isolation, fear, and exhaustion are just as bad. Some struggle to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Others describe how the anxiety of a possible attack makes them afraid to speak, eat, or leave the house.
This new research confirms that those experiences are not just anecdotal — they are measurable, scientifically valid, and medically urgent.
One member told me:“I can’t sleep. Sometimes I fall asleep quickly but then the pain wakes me like a bolt of lightning. I dread night-time because I know I won’t sleep. I hate the pain. I often wish I could sleep and never wake up.”
These are not isolated experiences. The study found that people with depression were more than twice as likely to develop TN. Insomnia and anxiety also significantly increased the risk of TN onset. Conversely, having TN increased the risk of developing anxiety by 43%, depression by 30%, and insomnia by nearly 40% (BMC, 2025).
What Needs to Change?
This study is a wake-up call for the medical profession. TN is not “just facial pain” — it is a serious neurological condition with complex physical and mental consequences. Clinicians must screen TN patients not only for pain levels but for sleep disruption, mood, and psychological distress.
We call on:
-
GPs to stop dismissing TN and recognise its full impact
-
NHS Pain Pathways to include pain-informed mental health support
-
Policy-makers to prioritise joined-up care for TN sufferers
-
Clinicians to act on this evidence, not ignore it
Psychological therapy, pain counselling, and sleep support should be available as part of the standard care pathway — not just pills or surgery.
How TNA UK Is Responding
At Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK, we are committed to providing both emotional and practical support. We offer:
-
A free helpline, staffed by trained volunteers with lived experience
-
Regional support groups and online meetups across the UK
-
Ongoing medical education webinars with world experts
-
Patient advocacy, including the UK’s largest-ever TN survey and policy campaigning
Visit our support page to learn more about our services. You are not alone.
Final Thoughts
This 2025 study is the strongest evidence that trigeminal neuralgia and mental health are two sides of the same coin. It’s time to rewrite the narrative. Pain relief alone isn’t enough. We must heal the pain and the person.
What This Study Tells Us About Trigeminal Neuralgia and Mental Health
-
People with TN often suffer from poor mental health. This study proves that depression, anxiety, and insomnia are not just common in TN patients — they’re directly linked to the severity and length of the pain.
-
The longer the pain goes untreated, the worse these mental health problems become. That’s why early diagnosis and proper pain management are critical.
-
It’s a two-way street. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and insomnia don’t just result from the pain — they can actually increase someone’s chances of developing TN in the first place. That’s something we’ve never had strong genetic evidence for until now.
-
Relieving the pain improves mental health. In patients who had surgery to reduce their pain, their depression, anxiety, and sleep problems improved significantly a year later.
-
Why this matters: TN is often dismissed as just facial pain. But this study shows it’s a complex neurological condition that affects the whole person — physically, emotionally, and psychologically. We need to treat it that way.
Read the full study: BMC Journal of Headache and Pain, 2025, Vol. 26, Article 74
