Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) often suffer from pain due to the occurrence of opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Pain is considered as one of the key factors causing poor treatment outcome and is correlated with worse quality of life.
Objectives: the aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of pain in MMT patients and to analyze the correlation between pain, somatic and mental health and social functioning.
Methods: the study group included 237 MMT patients. They were asked to complete the Brief Pain Inventory and other standardized scales and questionnaires to assess the relationship between pain and analyzed characteristics such as, for example, different aspects of quality of life and suicidal behaviour.
Results: in the present study, 54% of patients reported experiencing pain, however 66.9% of them did not take any medications (analgesics included). Those who suffered from pain more often tried to commit suicide (P = 0.003), were more likely to experience child physical abuse (P < 0.001), had poorer quality of life (the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) U = 4111.5, P < 0.0001), and had greater likelihood of developing alcohol dependence (the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, U = 5934.0, P = 0.051).
Conclusions: our results meet those of other authors especially considering child abuse, poorer quality of life and inadequate analgesia experienced by patients with pain. On the other hand, the conducted study did not reveal any relationship between pain and the dose of administered methadone. Pain is one of the most serious problems among MMT patients and should not be neglected because it leads to decrease in quality of life and increases the risk of suicide. This implies an increased necessity for routine assessment and pain management in these patients.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: we have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Objectives: the aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of pain in MMT patients and to analyze the correlation between pain, somatic and mental health and social functioning.
Methods: the study group included 237 MMT patients. They were asked to complete the Brief Pain Inventory and other standardized scales and questionnaires to assess the relationship between pain and analyzed characteristics such as, for example, different aspects of quality of life and suicidal behaviour.
Results: in the present study, 54% of patients reported experiencing pain, however 66.9% of them did not take any medications (analgesics included). Those who suffered from pain more often tried to commit suicide (P = 0.003), were more likely to experience child physical abuse (P < 0.001), had poorer quality of life (the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) U = 4111.5, P < 0.0001), and had greater likelihood of developing alcohol dependence (the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, U = 5934.0, P = 0.051).
Conclusions: our results meet those of other authors especially considering child abuse, poorer quality of life and inadequate analgesia experienced by patients with pain. On the other hand, the conducted study did not reveal any relationship between pain and the dose of administered methadone. Pain is one of the most serious problems among MMT patients and should not be neglected because it leads to decrease in quality of life and increases the risk of suicide. This implies an increased necessity for routine assessment and pain management in these patients.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: we have no conflicts of interest to declare.