Clinical Research Directory

The Norwegian Addiction, Pain and Trauma Study

Sponsor: University Hospital, Akershus

Summary

In populations with substance use disorders (SUD), there is a high prevalence of chronic pain with various underlying causes. Chronic pain can complicate the treatment of SUD and lead to poorer treatment outcomes. There is a need for a better understanding of the connections and interactions between chronic pain and substance use and dependence. Further, there is a high prevalence of chronic pain among patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As there is an overlap between populations with SUD and PTSD, taking potentially traumatizing life-experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms into account can provide a better understanding of chronic pain in populations with SUD. The Nor-APT study is a cross-sectional study, recruiting from outpatient and inpatient substance use treatment centres connected to four hospitals. Participants complete a questionnaire about substance/medication use, pain and how pain affect function, stressful life events and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Patients can consent to self-reported data being linked to retrospective and prospective longitudinal data from national demographic and health registries. The purpose of the study is to contribute to a better understanding and treatment of chronic pain among people with substance use disorders (SUD), and to contribute to the understanding of co-occurring substance use, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The over-arching research aims are to: I. Describe the prevalence and characteristics of pain for people in need of treatment for substance/medication use/dependence. II. Describe how the pain affects physical and emotional functioning, and subjective quality of life. III. Explore any connections between substance/medication use and pain, both what came first and any ways substance/medication use and pain affect each other. IV. Explore the connection between chronic pain, potentially traumatizing life events and post-traumatic stress symptoms. V. Explore how treatments received and how treatment affects outcomes. In addition, we will explore whether participants' experiences can be categorized into typical trajectories for how substance use, chronic pain and stressful life events occur and develop over the life span.

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