Associations between spousal or significant other solicitous responses and opioid dose in patients with chronic pain

Pain Med. 2012 Aug;13(8):1034-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01434.x. Epub 2012 Jul 9.

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine the effects of spouse or significant other solicitous responses on morphine equivalent dose among adults with chronic pain.

Design: Retrospective design.

Setting: Multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation center.

Patients: The cohort included 466 consecutively admitted patients who had a spouse or significant other and were using daily opioids. Intervention. Three-week outpatient pain rehabilitation program.

Outcome measures: Solicitous subscale of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory and morphine equivalent dose upon admission.

Results: The mean solicitous subscale score and morphine equivalent dose were 49.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.7) and 118mg/day (SD =149), respectively. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that greater subscale scores were associated with greater doses of opioids (P = 0.007). In a multivariate model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, years of education, employment status, pain duration, depression, and pain severity, the association retained significance (P = 0.007).

Conclusions: These findings suggest solicitous responses from a spouse or significant other may have an important influence on opioid dose among adults with chronic pain.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage*
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Chronic Pain / psychology*
  • Chronic Pain / rehabilitation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morphine / administration & dosage*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Social Support*
  • Spouses / psychology*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Morphine