title: Co-occurring prescription opioid use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prescription opioids are the most rapidly growing category of abused substances, and result in significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Co-occurring with psychiatric disorders, persons with prescription opioid problems have negative treatment outcomes. Data are needed on the prevalence of co-occurring prescription opioid abuse and specific disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to better inform clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine prevalence rates of current co-occurring prescription opioid use problems and PTSD symptom severity among patients in community addiction treatment settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We abstracted administrative and chart information on 573 new admissions to three addictive treatment agencies during 2011. Systematic data were collected on PTSD symptoms, substance use, and patient demographics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prescription opioid use was significantly associated with co-occurring PTSD symptom severity (OR: 1.42, p < 0.05). Use of prescription opioids in combination with sedatives (OR: 3.81, p < 0.01) or cocaine (OR: 2.24, p < 0.001) also were associated with PTSD severity. The odds of having co-occurring PTSD symptoms and prescription opioid use problem were nearly three times greater among females versus males (OR: 2.63, p < 0.001). Younger patients (18-34 years old) also were at higher risk (OR: 1.86, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prescription opioid use problems are a risk factor for co-occurring PTSD symptom severity. Being female or younger increase the likelihood of this co-morbidity. Further research is needed to confirm these finding, particularly using more rigorous diagnostic procedures. These data suggest that patients with prescription opioid use problems should be carefully evaluated for PTSD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth , Lebanon, New Hampshire , USA .
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lambert-Harris
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: Haiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McLeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Co-occurring disorders; opioid use disorders; posttraumatic stress disorder; prescription opioid abuse