Chronic pain (CP) is often accompanied by mental disorders (MD). However, little is known concerning the long-term effect of MD, personality traits and early-life traumatic events (ETE) on CP course. Accordingly, we aimed to prospectively assess the associations of major depressive disorders (MDD), anxiety disorders, personality traits and ETE with the incidence and the persistence of CP in middle-aged and older community dwellers. Methods: data stemmed from the three first follow-up evaluations of CoLaus|PsyCoLaus, a prospective cohort conducted in the general population of Lausanne (Switzerland). Diagnostic criteria for PD and ETE were elicited using semi-structured interviews, CP and personality traits were assessed by self-rating questionnaires. Follow-up intervals were subdivided into two groups: those without (n=2280) and those with (n=1841) CP initially. The associations between the psychological variables and the occurrence or persistence of CP 5 years later were assessed using serially adjusted logistic regression models. Higher neuroticism (OR (95CI) 1.21 (1.08;1.36)) and extraversion (1.18 (1.06;1.32)) were associated with higher 5-year CP incidence, whereas current (2.14 (1.34;3.44)) and remitted MDD (1.29 (1.00;1.66)) as well as lower extraversion (0.83 (0.74;0.94)) were associated with persistence of CP. In contrast, ETE and anxiety disorders were not associated with the incidence or persistence of CP. Our results suggest that personality traits are associated with both CP occurrence and persistence whereas the MDD may be more associated with CP persistence. Both personality and MDD are accessible to psychotherapy and MDD also to pharmacotherapy. Hence, these therapeutic measures might decrease the risk of CP and its persistence.