Prevalence of pain and its socio-demographic and clinical correlates among heroin-dependent patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

Prevalence of pain and its socio-demographic and clinical correlates among heroin-dependent patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 18;7(1):8840

Authors: Yang YJ, Xu YM, Chen WC, Zhu JH, Lu J, Zhong BL

Abstract
To date there have been no studies investigating the characteristics of pain in Chinese heroin-dependent patients (HDPs) receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study examined the frequency and socio-demographic and clinical correlates of pain in HDPs under MMT. A consecutive sample of 603 HDPs was recruited from three MMT clinics in Wuhan, China. These patients completed a standardized questionnaire concerning socio-demographic and clinical data. Pain intensity was assessed with the 5-point Verbal Rating Scale ("Overall, how intense is your pain now?") with responses of: 1 = none, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe, 5 = very severe. A pain score of three or higher was used to denote clinical significant pain (CSP). The prevalence of CSP in HDPs receiving MMT was 53.6%. Factors significantly associated CSP in multiple logistics regression analysis were old age, marital status of "non-married", unemployment, having religious beliefs, a history of injecting heroin, a high dose of methadone, and more depressive symptoms. Over a half of Chinese HDPs receiving MMT have CSP. Services for HDPs in MMT settings should include periodic screening for pain, psychosocial supports, and professional treatment for pain.

PMID: 28821886 [PubMed - in process]

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