Klem, Nardia-RoseSlater, HelenRowbotham, SamanthaChua, JasonWaller, RobertStinson, Jennifer NRomero, LorenaLord, Susan MTory, BreannaSchütze, RobertBriggs, Andrew M2025-04-152025-04-152024-10-22Pain, ISSN: 0304-3959 (Print); 1872-6623 (Online), Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 166(4), 732-754. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.00000000000034070304-39591872-6623http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19070Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and coexisting mental health conditions impact young people; however, little is known about their lived and care experiences. In a prospectively registered systematic review with qualitative evidence synthesis (PROSPERO: CRD42022369914), we explored the following: (1) lived physical, psychological, and social experiences; and (2) care experiences/preferences of young people living with CMP and mental health conditions. Inclusion criteria: studies using qualitative methods; participants aged 16 to 24 years with CMP and coexisting mental health condition(s); phenomenon explored included lived and/or care experiences. Seven databases were searched (inception to 19-May-2024), study quality was assessed, data were extracted and analysed thematically, and GRADE-CERQual was used to assess confidence in findings. Twenty-two studies (23 reports) were included (>239 participants, 82% women). Lived experiences yielded 4 themes (9 findings): 2-way relationship between CMP and mental health (2 findings, low to moderate confidence); psychosocial implications of CMP (3 findings, very low-moderate confidence); uncertainty about future (2 findings, low-moderate confidence); coping with CMP and mental health conditions (2 findings, low-moderate confidence). Care experiences/preferences yielded 3 themes (8 findings): navigating healthcare systems (2 findings, moderate confidence); receiving appropriate care (3 findings, very low-moderate confidence); point-of-care experiences and care preferences (3 findings, very low-moderate confidence). Chronic musculoskeletal pain and mental health conditions are interconnected, significantly impacting young people's lives, identities, and socialisation, yet services for CMP and mental health are often inadequate and poorly integrated. The mechanisms and interplay of CMP and mental health require deeper exploration, including how young people may be better supported with personalised, holistic, developmentally and/or life-stage-appropriate integrated care.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the International Association for the Study of Pain. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science4203 Health Services and Systems42 Health SciencesHealth ServicesClinical ResearchBehavioral and Social ScienceNeurosciencesChronic PainPain ResearchMental Health7.1 Individual care needs8.1 Organisation and delivery of servicesMusculoskeletalMental health11 Medical and Health Sciences17 Psychology and Cognitive SciencesAnesthesiology32 Biomedical and clinical sciences42 Health sciences52 PsychologyHumansMusculoskeletal PainChronic PainAdolescentYoung AdultMental DisordersQualitative ResearchFemaleMaleMental HealthHumansMental HealthMental DisordersQualitative ResearchAdolescentFemaleMaleYoung AdultMusculoskeletal PainChronic PainHumansMusculoskeletal PainChronic PainAdolescentYoung AdultMental DisordersQualitative ResearchFemaleMaleMental HealthJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003407