Session Information
Session Title: AA 2021 Virtual Posters - Pain and Spine Medicine
Session Time: None. Available on demand.
Disclosures: Randolph L. Roig, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a brief interdisciplinary pain evaluation program (PEP) on anxiety, depression, pain intensity, and interference
Design: Retrospective Cohort StudySetting : A single outpatient clinic at a Veterans Affairs Medical CenterParticipants : 317 patients who had voluntary LTOT tapers in a PEP from 2017 to 2019 during a 12-month treatment period
Interventions: Patients attended 3 appointments where opioid taper schedules were developed to reduce daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) < 40. During these appointments, veterans met with a social worker, pharmacist, physician assistant, and physician to develop an individualized pain management plan including physical therapy, psychotherapy, and interventional pain management referrals.
Main Outcome Measures: Data were gathered on self-report indices including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pain, Enjoyment of Life, and General Activity Scale (PEG). Data assessed at initial, 3, and 12-month appointments. Chi-square tests for independence and a series of mixed between-within subject ANOVAs were conducted to examine group differences in daily MME, anxiety, depression, pain intensity, and interference.
Results: 52% of patients were considered to be treatment completers if they attended all three appointments for taper goals. Results showed sustained improvements (p < 0.001) in anxiety, depression, pain intensity, and interference over time with no group differences. Effect sizes ranged from medium to large.Conclusions: When clinicians discuss the risks and benefits of opioid tapers, these results suggest that opioid tapers have long-term benefits in anxiety, depression, pain intensity, and interference. Future research should focus on opioid taper rates, long-term outcomes, and guidelines to expand individualized evidence-based opioid tapers.
Level of Evidence: Level III
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Roig RL, Kunefke K, Stockwell E. Veteran Opioid Tapers: A Retrospective Chart Review [abstract]. PM R. 2021; 13(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/veteran-opioid-tapers-a-retrospective-chart-review/. Accessed December 3, 2024.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2021
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/veteran-opioid-tapers-a-retrospective-chart-review/