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Patients' perceptions of the pathways linking chronic pain with problematic substance use
Jessica J Wyse1,2, Jennette Lovejoy3, Julia Holloway4
1School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States.
Pain
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Many patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) also suffer from chronic pain. This study reveals three distinct ways patients perceive the connection between their SUD and chronic pain experiences.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Pain Management
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur with chronic pain, affecting approximately 50% of patients.
- The patient's perspective on the relationship between SUD and chronic pain is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how patients with comorbid SUD and chronic pain describe the relationship and linking mechanisms between these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 patients undergoing SUD treatment and diagnosed with chronic pain.
- Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Main Results:
- Three primary pathways emerged: SUD independent of pain, substance use for pain self-management, and opioid initiation leading to SUD.
- Patients described varied experiences of how substance use and chronic pain interconnect.
Conclusions:
- Patient narratives highlight the complex interplay between chronic pain and SUD.
- Findings contribute to understanding the patient's lived experience of comorbid SUD and chronic pain.
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