General hospital psychiatry
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Gen Hosp Psychiatry · Jul 2017
Misuse of prescription opioids among chronic pain patients suffering from anxiety: A cross-sectional analysis.
In the past two decades, chronic pain has been increasingly treated with prescription opioids, particularly in developed countries. This has drawn public concern of possible risks associated with the potential misuse of prescriptions opioids. Previous research has indicated that this may be particularly true among individuals suffering from co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The present study sought to explore rates of misuse among chronic pain patients prescribed opioids, comparing individuals with and without anxiety. ⋯ These findings highlight the importance of detecting and addressing co-occurring anxiety when treating patients with chronic pain who receive prescription opioids.