International journal of behavioral medicine
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The additive effect of experiencing chronic pain in the context of nicotine addiction places smokers with chronic pain at elevated risk for experiencing physical and mental health problems. Isolating factors that explain linkages between pain and health-related outcomes among smokers with chronic pain is an important next step. Therefore, the current study examined the explanatory role of anxiety sensitivity in relations between pain intensity and current opioid misuse, severity of opioid dependence, tobacco-related problems, and anxiety/depressive symptoms. ⋯ The current investigation highlights the potential importance of anxiety sensitivity in terms of the experience of pain with severity of substance use and anxiety/depressive symptoms among smokers with chronic pain.