Pain-related disability, PTSD symptoms, and mood among a comorbid chronic pain and PTSD sample prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reed, David E; Cobos, Briana; Lehinger, Elizabeth A; Nabity, Paul S; Vail, Kenneth E; McGeary, Donald D
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 27:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1515
• Page End: 1532
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: chronic pain -- COVID-19 -- mood -- pain-related disability -- pandemic -- PTSD; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/13591053211051821
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

There is a knowledge gap when treating comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing this gap, 169 individuals (57.4% female), aged 39.8 years were recruited based on levels of pain-related disability and PTSD symptoms. Participants were assessed prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. Improvements in pain-related disability were marginally attenuated for the comorbid group, compared to the chronic pain group. Results show that some condition-specific symptoms may not have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cautious interpretation is warranted due to only two time points and the lack of a diverse sample.