Predictors of pain intensity and pain functioning in patients with the hepatitis C virus.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships among biological and psychological variables with pain intensity and pain functioning in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).


METHODS
Participants were 49 patients with HCV who completed well-validated assessments of pain intensity and pain functioning. Participants also completed measures of psychological functioning, and medical records were reviewed.


RESULTS
Thirty-three (67.3%) of 49 participants had a current diagnosis for a pain-related condition. Regression analyses were conducted to examine variables associated with pain intensity and pain functioning. The psychosocial variables, particularly depression severity, accounted for an additional 21% of the variance in average pain intensity (P=.002) and 33% of the variance in pain functioning (P<.001). These results remained significant even after controlling for demographic characteristics, opioid prescription status and disease-related variables.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide preliminary support for the role of biological and psychological factors in the development and exacerbation of pain in HCV patients. Future studies should include a more comprehensive assessment of pain-related factors and examine their associations with additional disease-related and biological variables. Developing a better understanding of the factors associated with pain in HCV patients will help to inform future interventions for chronic pain in this patient population.
Morasco
Benjamin J
BJ
Northwest Hepatitis C Resource Center and Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences Division, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR 97239, USA. benjamin.morasco@va.gov
Huckans
Marilyn
M
Loftis
Jennifer M
JM
Woodhouse
Jonathan
J
Seelye
Adriana
A
Turk
Dennis C
DC
Hauser
Peter
P
D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011584:Psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis