Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unhelpful pain cognitions, such as catastrophizing and low self-efficacy, and the relationships between pain qualities (severity, interference, distress, and disability) and opioid use in patients with cancer. The study design included the l...

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Main Authors: Simon van Rysewyk, Melanie Lovell, Paul Glare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2024-12-01
Series:Academia Medicine
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/126610818/Pain_catastrophizing_is_associated_with_high_dose_opioids_in_patients_with_cancer_pain
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author Simon van Rysewyk
Melanie Lovell
Paul Glare
author_facet Simon van Rysewyk
Melanie Lovell
Paul Glare
author_sort Simon van Rysewyk
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unhelpful pain cognitions, such as catastrophizing and low self-efficacy, and the relationships between pain qualities (severity, interference, distress, and disability) and opioid use in patients with cancer. The study design included the linkage of collected self-report questionnaire responses sourced from the Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) with medical records in cancer patients referred to a hospital-based pain clinic in Sydney, Australia, from January 2013 to June 2019. Of 267 patients with a history of cancer, 37 (13.8%) had pain attributable to cancer. The average pain intensity was moderate, but severe (≥7/10) in 12 (36%) patients. Unhelpful pain cognitions were common; average scores for pain self-efficacy and catastrophizing were moderate. At referral, most patients were on strong opioids, with many on high doses (>100 mg oral morphine equivalents (OME) per day). Despite higher doses of opioids, pain interference, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and catastrophizing scores were worse in patients with severe pain. Pain catastrophizing was significantly higher in the severe group. The correlation between opioid dose with catastrophizing and anxiety indicates that healthcare providers may have not assessed unhelpful pain cognitions, and opioids may have been used by patients to cope with psychological or spiritual distress rather than for analgesia.
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spelling doaj-art-36c58e89c80b4a27ac6f006de9b870b22025-02-11T23:30:37ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Medicine2994-435X2024-12-011410.20935/AcadMed7448Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer painSimon van Rysewyk0Melanie Lovell1Paul Glare2Department of Philosophy and Gender Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.Greenwich Palliative and Supportive Care Department HammondCare, Greenwich, NSW 2050, Australia.Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, Anderson Stuart Building, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unhelpful pain cognitions, such as catastrophizing and low self-efficacy, and the relationships between pain qualities (severity, interference, distress, and disability) and opioid use in patients with cancer. The study design included the linkage of collected self-report questionnaire responses sourced from the Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) with medical records in cancer patients referred to a hospital-based pain clinic in Sydney, Australia, from January 2013 to June 2019. Of 267 patients with a history of cancer, 37 (13.8%) had pain attributable to cancer. The average pain intensity was moderate, but severe (≥7/10) in 12 (36%) patients. Unhelpful pain cognitions were common; average scores for pain self-efficacy and catastrophizing were moderate. At referral, most patients were on strong opioids, with many on high doses (>100 mg oral morphine equivalents (OME) per day). Despite higher doses of opioids, pain interference, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and catastrophizing scores were worse in patients with severe pain. Pain catastrophizing was significantly higher in the severe group. The correlation between opioid dose with catastrophizing and anxiety indicates that healthcare providers may have not assessed unhelpful pain cognitions, and opioids may have been used by patients to cope with psychological or spiritual distress rather than for analgesia.https://www.academia.edu/126610818/Pain_catastrophizing_is_associated_with_high_dose_opioids_in_patients_with_cancer_pain
spellingShingle Simon van Rysewyk
Melanie Lovell
Paul Glare
Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
Academia Medicine
title Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
title_full Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
title_fullStr Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
title_full_unstemmed Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
title_short Pain catastrophizing is associated with high-dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
title_sort pain catastrophizing is associated with high dose opioids in patients with cancer pain
url https://www.academia.edu/126610818/Pain_catastrophizing_is_associated_with_high_dose_opioids_in_patients_with_cancer_pain
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AT paulglare paincatastrophizingisassociatedwithhighdoseopioidsinpatientswithcancerpain