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Erschienen in: neuropsychiatrie 4/2014

01.12.2014 | original article

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in transcultural patients with chronic pain

verfasst von: Maximus Berger, Sanela Piralic-Spitzl, Martin Aigner

Erschienen in: neuropsychiatrie | Ausgabe 4/2014

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Abstract

Background

Traumatic events are commonly experienced in the general population and can lead to both psychological and physical consequences. While some may process the experienced event without developing trauma related symptoms in the long term, others develop persistent symptomatology in the form of chronic pain depending on the type of trauma as well as various other risk factors.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of the number of lifetime traumas and chronic pain in a sample of transcultural patients to further develop existing research highlighting an association between the number of traumas and chronic pain that may be independent of a categorical diagnosis of PTSD.

Methods

Using a case-control design, this study compared 29 chronic pain patients (Gerbershagen II/III) born in former Yugoslavia (21 female; age: 52.5 years, SD 7.3) to 21 patients of a general psychiatric sample who were matched by age- (±5 years), migratory-background, and gender. The number of traumas and PTSD symptomatology were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Somatisation, social dysfunction and anxiety were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to determine the presence of depression.

Results

96.9 % of the chronic pain patients reported at least one traumatic event compared to 76.2 % within the control group (p = 0.029). Likewise, the mean number of reported traumas was significantly higher among the chronic pain group at 12 vs. 7 respectively (p = 0.024). Regarding anxiety, depression and social dysfunction, no significant difference between the two groups was found.

Conclusions

Chronic pain patients with migratory background report an unusually high number of traumatic events. Clinicians should carefully screen for trauma history in this group of patients. The present study supports prior research suggesting a cumulative effect of trauma on chronic pain.
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Metadaten
Titel
Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in transcultural patients with chronic pain
verfasst von
Maximus Berger
Sanela Piralic-Spitzl
Martin Aigner
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2014
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
neuropsychiatrie / Ausgabe 4/2014
Print ISSN: 0948-6259
Elektronische ISSN: 2194-1327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-014-0122-x

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