Citation

Peixoto C, Hyland L, Buchanan DM, Langille E, Nahas R. J. Pain Res. 2018; 11: 1927-1936.

Affiliation

Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Dove Press)

DOI

10.2147/JPR.S165077

PMID

30288087

PMCID

PMC6160266

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The polytrauma clinical triad (PCT) is a complex disorder composed of three comorbid diagnoses of chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and postconcussion syndrome (PCS). PCT has been documented in veterans returning from deployment, but this is the first report on PCT prevalence in nonmilitary personnel after a motor vehicle collision (MVC).

METHODS: Data were drawn from routine intake assessments completed by 71 patients referred to a community-based clinic for chronic pain management. All patients completed the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (PCL-5), and Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) during a standardized intake assessment. An additional modified RPQ score was derived to address previously reported symptom overlap between PCS and chronic pain.

RESULTS: Standard and modified RPQ scores yielded PCS prevalence rates of 100% and 54.9% in our sample, respectively.

RESULTS suggest that a modified RPQ score, limited to visual and vestibular symptoms, may be more useful PCS screening criteria in patients with chronic pain. PTSD screening criteria on the PCL-5 were met by 85.9% of the patients. More than half of the patients referred for chronic pain after MVC met criteria for PCT (52.1%). Patients who met PCT criteria reported worse headache, overall pain, and sleep quality outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Among patients in our sample with chronic pain after MVC, more than half met criteria for PCT. A modified approach to RPQ scoring limited to visual and vestibular symptoms may be required to screen for PCS in these patients.

Language: en

Keywords

MVC; PTSD; chronic pain; concussion; mTBI