title: The impact of major life events on the use of complementary and alternative medicine among individuals with chronic pain: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Treating chronic pain can be difficult because it is a complex condition influenced by genetic makeup and physiological and psychological factors. The experience of major life events has also been found to affect the psychosocial functioning, health, and health behaviors of patients. Whereas the impact of major life events on the use of traditional medical practices has been explored, only one study to date has examined the relationship between major life events and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the impact of major life events on the use of CAM among patients with chronic pain syndromes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were consecutive patients seeking treatment at a pain clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study occurred at a tertiary center for pain management in Southern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were adult patients experiencing chronic pain for at least 6 mo, seeking treatment at a pain center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a measure assessing their use of CAM modalities as well as their receptiveness to using previously unused CAM modalities, and they provided demographic information, including the occurrence of major life events, such as a job loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 199 adults with chronic pain participated in the study. The majority (91.6%) of chronic pain patients in the study reported using at least one form of CAM, with an average of at least five different forms of CAM. Individuals reported receptiveness to CAM modalities that they had not previously used (P < .05). Rates of CAM use were greater among those that had experienced a major life event in the prior 6 mo (P < .05). The most common major life events for this group included a compromised medical status, death of a loved one, financial hardship, a major geographical move, and altered family relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found that individuals with chronic pain frequently use CAM therapies, especially those who had recently experienced a major life event. Major life events may motivate patients with chronic pain to seek out different forms of CAM as a way to manage their pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California-Irvine, Orange, CA, USA. shuminw1@uci.edu
authors.forename: Shu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: David Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Edwin T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Zeev N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Kain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires