Liu X, Fang Q, Sun YD, Liu N, Liang HH, Li L. Effects of celecoxib combined with duloxetine on chronic pain, depression, and anxiety in patients with knee osteoarthritis. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(1): 110298 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i1.110298]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Liang Li, MD, Pain Ward of Orthopedics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 555 Youyi East Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China. ll2271005@163.com
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Psychology
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Retrospective Study
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jan 19, 2026 (publication date) through Dec 31, 2025
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World Journal of Psychiatry
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2220-3206
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Liu X, Fang Q, Sun YD, Liu N, Liang HH, Li L. Effects of celecoxib combined with duloxetine on chronic pain, depression, and anxiety in patients with knee osteoarthritis. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(1): 110298 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i1.110298]
World J Psychiatry. Jan 19, 2026; 16(1): 110298 Published online Jan 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i1.110298
Effects of celecoxib combined with duloxetine on chronic pain, depression, and anxiety in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Xin Liu, Qing Fang, Yin-Di Sun, Na Liu, Hao-Hao Liang, Liang Li
Xin Liu, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
Qing Fang, Yin-Di Sun, Liang Li, Pain Ward of Orthopedics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
Na Liu, Hao-Hao Liang, Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedic Trauma Rehabilitation Ward, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Liu X and Fang Q designed the study, collected and analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript; Liu X, Sun YD, Liu N, Li L and Liang HH participated in the study’s conception and data collection; Liu X, Fang Q and Liang HH participated in study design and provided guidance; all authors read and approved the final version.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, approval No. 2025-KY-097-01.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no financial relationships to disclose.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Liang Li, MD, Pain Ward of Orthopedics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 555 Youyi East Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China. ll2271005@163.com
Received: August 8, 2025 Revised: September 23, 2025 Accepted: October 30, 2025 Published online: January 19, 2026 Processing time: 144 Days and 18.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common disabling pathology characterized by knee joint pain, swelling, and functional impairment, primarily affects middle-aged and older adults. In addition to physical limitations, chronic pain often leads to psychological problems, including anxiety and depression, which further impact patients’ quality of life.
AIM
To examine the efficacy and safety of celecoxib plus duloxetine in managing chronic pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with KOA.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 123 patients with KOA treated at our center between February 2020 and February 2023. Of these, 66 received celecoxib plus duloxetine, and 57 received celecoxib alone. Outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scales (SAS)/Self-Rating Depression Scales (SDS). Safety was evaluated by monitoring changes in liver function enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen.
RESULTS
Patients receiving celecoxib plus duloxetine showed significantly greater reductions in VAS and WOMAC and greater improvements in SAS and SDS scores compared with those receiving celecoxib alone. Hepatorenal function did not differ significantly between the treatment groups. Logistic regression analysis identified patient age, educational background, and treatment regimen as independent predictors of inadequate improvement in negative emotional symptoms.
CONCLUSION
In patients with KOA, celecoxib plus duloxetine effectively mitigates chronic pain and improves anxiety and depressive symptoms without increasing adverse hepatic or renal effects. These findings support its use as a safe and effective treatment option.
Core Tip: This study provides an in-depth evaluation of the effects of celecoxib combined with duloxetine on chronic pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The findings indicate that the combined regimen is more effective than monotherapy in reducing pain, improving knee function, and alleviating anxiety and depression. Furthermore, patient age, educational background, and treatment regimen were identified as independent factors influencing emotional outcomes, offering practical guidance for individualized treatment planning. These findings highlight the potential of this therapeutic approach to improve overall clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with KOA.
