Rodríguez-Espinosa S, Coloma-Carmona A, Pérez-Carbonell A, Román-Quiles JF, Carballo JL. Clinical and psychological factors associated with interdose opioid withdrawal in chronic pain population.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2021;
129:108386. [PMID:
34080554 DOI:
10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108386]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Prescription Opioid-Use Disorder (POUD) have undergone some significant changes. One of the most controversial changes has been the elimination of the withdrawal symptoms criterion when opioid use is under appropriate medical supervision. For this reason, the goal of this study was to analyze factors associated with opioid withdrawal in patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP).
METHODS
This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 404 patients who use prescription opioids for long-term treatment (≥90 days) of CNCP. Measures included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, POUD, withdrawal symptoms, craving, anxiety-depressive symptoms, and pain intensity and interference.
RESULTS
Forty-seven percent (n = 193) of the sample reported moderate-severe withdrawal symptoms, which were associated with lower age, higher daily morphine dose and duration of treatment with opioids, moderate-severe POUD, use of psychotropic drugs, higher anxiety-depressive symptoms, and greater pain intensity and interference (p < .05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that moderate-severe POUD (OR = 2.82), anxiety (OR = 2.21), depression (OR = 1.81), higher pain interference (OR = 1.05), and longer duration of treatment with opioids were the strongest factors associated with moderate-severe withdrawal symptoms (p < .05).
CONCLUSION
Psychological factors seem to play a key role in the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Since greater intensity of these symptoms increases the risk of developing POUD, knowing the factors associated with withdrawal may be useful in developing preventive psychological interventions.
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