National Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Americans Experience Unexplained Pain and Illness

A new national survey of more than 1,500 U.S. adults conducted by the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms in partnership with XandY reveals that nearly half of Americans (48%) are living with ongoing pain or illness that either has no clear explanation or is not responding to medical treatment as expected. The findings demonstrate that neuroplastic symptoms represent one of the most significant healthcare challenges facing the nation today.

The survey results, available at https://symptomatic.me, indicate that these conditions are far from rare and represent among the most common reasons people seek medical care. Among those most likely to have neuroplastic symptoms, 63% have been experiencing their current symptoms for up to five years, while 37% have had their symptoms for more than five years, indicating the chronic nature of these conditions.

The diversity of symptoms reported is substantial, with 65% of affected individuals reporting chronic back or neck pain, 57% experiencing muscle, limb, or joint pain, 43% suffering from chronic fatigue, and 35% dealing with headaches or migraines. Most individuals live with several of these conditions simultaneously, compounding their impact on quality of life.

Research shows that the brain can generate pain or illness anywhere in the body through learned nerve pathways that are reversible. These neuroplastic symptoms are often triggered by stress, trauma, emotions, and other life challenges. The healthcare costs associated with these conditions are greater than for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined, representing a substantial economic burden.

David Clarke, MD, President of ATNS and a board-certified gastroenterologist, emphasized the treatment gap. "There are highly effective treatments for these conditions, but few people know about them," Clarke stated. "They work by training your brain to recognize and turn off unnecessary danger signals. What is most needed now is greater awareness, widespread professional training, and much better access to these solutions."

The survey reveals significant public openness to psychological approaches, with 76-97% of people with symptoms believing their condition could have a psychological cause at least "some of the time." Among those most likely to have neuroplastic symptoms, 47% say they are either "definitely" or "probably" willing to try neuroplastic psychological treatment, while only 20% say they "definitely" or "probably" would not.

Clinical evidence supports the effectiveness of these approaches. In the Boulder Back Pain study, pain improved by an average of 75% in just four weeks. At UCLA, male veterans achieved at least 30% pain relief nearly four times as often (63%) as those treated with traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (17%). These results demonstrate the potential for significant improvement when appropriate treatments are accessed.

Co-author Matthew Goldberg, PhD, noted the widespread nature of the problem, stating, "This is not a fringe issue. Chronic, unexplained pain and illness are an urgent problem for many. Awareness of and access to effective treatments can be life-changing, as it has been for me."

The Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms provides educational resources and information about neuroplastic conditions at https://symptomatic.me/about. Co-author Abel Gustafson, PhD, described the findings as "a roadmap for change," adding that "our long-term vision is to dramatically increase the understanding and treatment of neuroplastic symptoms among the public, patients, and practitioners."

The survey results indicate that expanding public awareness and reducing barriers to access for neuroplastic recovery therapies could transform care for millions of Americans suffering from chronic, unexplained symptoms. As Clarke expressed, "Knowledge becomes healing. This survey shows that many people suffering from neuroplastic symptoms accept the possibility of a psychological cause and are open to trying neuroplastic recovery therapies."