Article

Chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) co-occur at high rates, and
Veterans from recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be particularly vulnerable
to both conditions.
The objective of this study was to identify key aspects of
chronic pain, cognitions, and psychological distress associated with comorbid
PTSD among this sample of Veterans. Baseline data were analyzed from a randomized
controlled trial testing a stepped-care intervention for chronic musculoskeletal
pain. Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) Veterans with
chronic pain only (n = 173) were compared with those with chronic pain and
clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (n = 68). Group differences
on pain characteristics, pain cognitions, and psychological distress were
evaluated. Results demonstrated that OIF/OEF Veterans with comorbid chronic
musculoskeletal pain and PTSD experienced higher pain severity, greater
pain-related disability and increased pain interference, more maladaptive pain
cognitions (e.g., catastrophizing, self-efficacy, pain centrality), and higher
affective distress than those with chronic pain alone.
Veterans of recent
military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan may be particularly vulnerable to the
compounded adverse effects of chronic pain and PTSD.
These results highlight a
more intense and disabling pain and psychological experience for those with
chronic pain and PTSD than for those without PTSD.

Langue : ANGLAIS