An examination of referrals declined for chronic pain care: There is increasing mental health complexity within care-seeking patients with chronic pain over time.

Background: Chronic pain is a complex disease that requires interprofessional care for effective management. Despite the need for multidisciplinary care, disease and health care inequities can prevent individuals from attaining adequate treatment. Factors such as mental health, cost, and distance to a health care center can contribute to health care accessibility inequality.