engleski

The relationship between chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Clinical practice and recent research suggest that chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) co-occur at a high rate and may interact in such a way as to negatively impact the course of either disorder. Objective: The authors analysed the relationship between chronic pain and chronic combat-related PTSD among Croatian veterans. Methods: The 100 Croatian veterans with chronic combat-related PTSD and comorbid chronic pain, who were treated at the Osijek University Clinical Hospital during year 2004, were selected as the sample for this study. Chronic pain and severity of PTSD, as well as therapeutical approaches were analysed through clinical interview, medical records, and with self reported questionnaires (Mississippi Scale for combat-related PTSD, Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Outcomes Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory). Results: Combat veterans with PTSD reported in descending order back pain, headache pain, limb pain and torso pain. Reexperiencing symptoms of PTSD were significantly related to pain intensity and pain disability. Anxiety and depression were also related to pain. Psychotropic agents and analgetics have been prescribed to all patients Conclusion: The high levels of pain symptoms in PTSD patients suggests that pain is an important issue that needs to be recognized and treated by multidisciplinary approach. Pharmacotherapy alone is no sufficient to provide complete remission of both disorders. Further reseach on the role of chronic pain in the phenomenology of PTSD is necessary, as well as the development of optimal treatment protocols for both disorders, in order to prevent their chronicity.

chronic pain; PTSD

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