title: Prevalence of chronic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder, and persistent postconcussive symptoms in OIF/OEF veterans: polytrauma clinical triad.
abstract: This study examines the prevalence and coprevalence with which returning Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans were reporting symptoms consistent with chronic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS). The medical records of 340 OIF/OEF veterans seen at a Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Network Site were comprehensively reviewed. Analyses indicated a high prevalence of all three conditions in this population, with chronic pain, PTSD, and PPCS present in 81.5%, 68.2%, and 66.8%, respectively. Only 12 of the veterans (3.5%) had no chronic pain, PTSD, or PPCS. The frequency at which these three conditions were present in isolation (10.3%, 2.9%, and 5.3%, respectively) was significantly lower than the frequency at which they were present in combination with one another, with 42.1% of the sample being diagnosed with all three conditions simultaneously. The most common chronic pain locations were the back (58%) and head (55%). These results underscore the complexity of the presenting complaints in OIF/OEF veterans and support the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, USA. henry.lew@va.gov
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Otis
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tun
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: David X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Cifu
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*