Childhood trauma and pain medication prescription in adulthood

Abstract

Objective. In this study, we examined the relationships between five types of self-reported trauma in childhood and the prescription of pain medications in adulthood. Methods. Using a cross-sectional sample of convenience, we surveyed 80 internal medicine outpatients with regard to five types of childhood trauma (i.e. sexual, physical, emotional abuses; physical neglect; the witnessing of violence). We then retrospectively examined the medical record of each participant for active prescriptions of pain medications during the preceding 4 weeks (i.e. narcotic analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS, “other” pain medications). Results. We found that the number of different types of abuse in childhood correlated with NSAID prescriptions, “other” pain medication prescriptions, and the total number of prescribed pain medications—but not with narcotic analgesic prescriptions. Also, no individual form of childhood trauma exceeded the others in contribution. Conclusions. While a greater number of different types of childhood trauma demonstrate an association with a greater number of different pain medications prescribed, according to findings in the medical record, there is no associated increase in the prescription of narcotic analgesics. We discuss the potential implications of these findings.