Relations among psychopathology, substance use, and physical pain experiences in methadone-maintained patients.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Differences in psychiatric distress and substance use (licit and illicit) were examined in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients with a variety of pain experiences. METHOD: Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were performed on data obtained from 150 patients currently enrolled in MMT. Assessments were carried out at the 3 opioid agonist treatment programs operated by the APT Foundation, New Haven, Connecticut. Participants were recruited between March 2007 and March 2008. RESULTS: In comparison to MMT patients reporting no pain in the previous week, those with chronic severe pain (CSP) (ie, pain lasting at least 6 months with moderate to severe pain intensity or significant pain interference) exhibited significantly higher (P < .01) levels of depression, anxiety, somatization, overall psychiatric distress, and personality disorder criteria but reported comparable rates of substance use. A third group, ie, non-CSP MMT patients reporting some pain in the past week, differed significantly (P < .05) from the other 2 pain groups on somatization and global psychiatric distress but reported comparable rates of substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Pain-related differences in psychiatric problems exist in MMT patients and may have implications for program planning and outreach efforts. Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Barry, Declan T (DT); Beitel, Mark (M); Garnet, Brian (B); Joshi, Dipa (D); Rosenblum, Andrew (A); Schottenfeld, Richard S (RS);

Affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519-1187, USA. declan.barry(-atsign-)yale.edu

Grants: K23 DA024050 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; K23 DA024050-01A1 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; K24 DA000445 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; K24 DA000445-05 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: The Journal of clinical psychiatry (J Clin Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 70 (issue 9) : pp 1213-8

Dates: Created 2009/10/12; Completed 2009/10/21;

PMID: 19607760, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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