@article{ref1,
title="Co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD among US military veterans: prevalence, correlates, and functioning",
journal="Journal of general internal medicine",
year="2024",
author="Reed, David E. 2nd and Fischer, Ian C. and Williams, Rhonda M. and Na, Peter J. and Pietrzak, Robert H.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The prevalence of co-occurring chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has yet to be established in a nationally representative sample of US veterans, and little is known about the individual contributing roles of these disorders to the psychiatric and functional burden of this comorbidity. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of chronic pain, PTSD, and co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidities and psychosocial functioning in these groups. <br><br>DESIGN: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of US veterans. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans (n=4069) were classified into four groups: control (i.e., no PTSD or chronic pain), chronic pain only, PTSD only, and co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD.   MAIN MEASURES: A probable PTSD diagnosis was established using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and a chronic pain diagnosis using a self-report item that queried health care professional diagnoses. Psychiatric and functional status were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Screen of Drug Use, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Short Form Health Survey-8, Brief Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning, and Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale.   KEY RESULTS: A total of 3.8% of veterans reported both probable PTSD and a diagnosis of chronic pain. Relative to veterans with chronic pain alone, those with co-occurring chronic pain and probable PTSD were more likely to screen positive for psychiatric disorders (odds ratios [ORs]=2.59-9.88) and scored lower on measures of psychosocial functioning (Cohen's ds=0.38-1.43). Relative to veterans with probable PTSD only, those with co-occurring chronic pain and probable PTSD were more likely to have attempted suicide (OR=4.79; 95%CI, 1.81-12.69). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the importance of whole health care that considers a broad range of health and functional domains in the assessment and treatment of co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD in veterans.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0884-8734",
doi="10.1007/s11606-024-08803-w",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11606-024-08803-w"
}