Pain Medication Use Among Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ann Schwartz, Emory University; Rebekah G. Bradley, Emory University; Kristin M. Penza, Emory University; Melissa Sexton, Emory University; Daniel Jay, Emory University; Patrick Haggard, Emory University; Steven Garlow, Emory University; Kerry Ressler, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2006
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2006 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.47.2.136
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Psychosomatics
• ISSN: 0033-3182
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 136
• End Page: 142
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was supported by a grant from the Emory Medical Care Foundation (Atlanta, GA).
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

The relationship of analgesic medication use with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis was investigated among a sample of 173 African Americans presenting for routine outpatient visits at an urban mental health center. Seventy-eight (43.5%) of the sample met DSM-IV PTSD criteria. Those with PTSD had significantly higher use of analgesic medication (both opiate and non-opiate), as compared with non-PTSD patients. PTSD symptoms, as measured by the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale, were significantly higher in subjects who were prescribed analgesics. The authors conclude that there may be a relationship between PTSD and use of pain medications warranting further examination of the endogenous opiate system in the pathophysiology of PTSD.