Pain Medication Use Among Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• 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
• Journal Title: Psychosomatics
• Volume: Volume 47, Number 2
• Publisher: Elsevier | 2006, Pages 136-142
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.47.2.136
• Subjects: 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.