TY - JOUR
T1 - PTSD as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Post-Concussive Symptoms and Pain Among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans
AU - Avallone, Kimberly M.
AU - Smith, Erin R.
AU - Ma, Sean
AU - Gargan, Sean
AU - Porter, Katherine E.
AU - Authier, Caitlin C.
AU - Martis, Brian
AU - Liberzon, Israel
AU - Rauch, Sheila A.M.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur in Veteran populations, particularly among Veterans returning from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Extant research indicates that both TBI and PTSD can negatively impact pain broadly; however, less is known about how these variables impact one another. The current study examines the impact of self-reported post-concussive symptoms on both pain severity and pain interference among Veterans with PTSD who screened positive for a possible TBI, and subsequently, evaluates the potential mediating role of PTSD in these relationships. Materials and Methods: Participants were 126 combat Veterans that served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn who were being evaluated for participation in a multisite treatment outcomes study. As part of an initial evaluation for inclusion in the study, participants completed several self-report measures and interviews, including the Brief Traumatic Brain Injury Screen, Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, Brief Pain Inventory, and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, which were utilized in these analyses. Results: For pain severity, greater post-concussive symptoms significantly predicted increased pain severity with a significant indirect effect of postconcussive symptoms on pain severity through PTSD (indirect effect = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = 0.0094-0.0526). Similar results were found for pain interference (indirect effect = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = 0.0075-0.0471). Conclusions: These findings replicate and extend previous findings regarding the relationship between TBI, pain, and PTSD. Self-reported post-concussive symptoms negatively impact both pain severity and pain interference among Veterans with probable TBI, and PTSD serves as a mediator in these relationships. Clinically, these results highlight the importance of fully assessing for PTSD symptoms in Veterans with a history of TBI presenting with pain. Further, it is possible that providing effective PTSD treatment to reduce PTSD severity may provide some benefit in reducing post-concussive and pain symptoms.
AB - Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur in Veteran populations, particularly among Veterans returning from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Extant research indicates that both TBI and PTSD can negatively impact pain broadly; however, less is known about how these variables impact one another. The current study examines the impact of self-reported post-concussive symptoms on both pain severity and pain interference among Veterans with PTSD who screened positive for a possible TBI, and subsequently, evaluates the potential mediating role of PTSD in these relationships. Materials and Methods: Participants were 126 combat Veterans that served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn who were being evaluated for participation in a multisite treatment outcomes study. As part of an initial evaluation for inclusion in the study, participants completed several self-report measures and interviews, including the Brief Traumatic Brain Injury Screen, Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, Brief Pain Inventory, and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, which were utilized in these analyses. Results: For pain severity, greater post-concussive symptoms significantly predicted increased pain severity with a significant indirect effect of postconcussive symptoms on pain severity through PTSD (indirect effect = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = 0.0094-0.0526). Similar results were found for pain interference (indirect effect = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = 0.0075-0.0471). Conclusions: These findings replicate and extend previous findings regarding the relationship between TBI, pain, and PTSD. Self-reported post-concussive symptoms negatively impact both pain severity and pain interference among Veterans with probable TBI, and PTSD serves as a mediator in these relationships. Clinically, these results highlight the importance of fully assessing for PTSD symptoms in Veterans with a history of TBI presenting with pain. Further, it is possible that providing effective PTSD treatment to reduce PTSD severity may provide some benefit in reducing post-concussive and pain symptoms.
KW - OEF/OIF/OND
KW - PTSD
KW - TBI
KW - pain
KW - veterans
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U2 - 10.1093/milmed/usy225
DO - 10.1093/milmed/usy225
M3 - Article
C2 - 30215758
AN - SCOPUS:85060660554
VL - 184
SP - E118-E123
JO - Military medicine
JF - Military medicine
SN - 0026-4075
IS - 1-2
ER -