Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426662›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2025

Factors Associated with Initiation of Opioid Use in a US Department of Veterans Affairs Pain Clinic: A Retrospective Study.

Anderson Chen, Erin Pleasants, Justine Lazatin, Naim Mekdessi, Christopher J Miller, Diana Higgins, James Levitt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Anderson ChenDepartment of Geriatric Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0507-9363
Erin PleasantsCenter for Health Optimization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7479-9191
Justine LazatinDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Naim MekdessiDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Christopher J MillerDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Diana HigginsDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 750 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6885-266X
James LevittDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9733-870X

Funding

Harvard Medical School Livingston Research Fellowship NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGuidelines suggest that, in chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) management, non-opioid modalities should be prioritized, as there are negative consequences related to opioid use. There is a dearth of literature elucidating the risk factors for initiating opioid use amongst veterans with CNCP.

methodsChart review on 193 patients with a new referral at a local US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pain clinic. Patients were required to have CNCP and not be taking opioid medication at the time of referral. The review started on 1 January 2014 and covered the year following. Data were analyzed via stepwise multiple logistic regression using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software (Version 9.4; SAS institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

resultsA total of 37 veterans (19%) received a new opioid prescription in the year following initial encounters at the pain clinic for CNCP. A history of substance use was associated with lower odds of receiving an opioid prescription. In contrast, being employed was associated with higher odds of receiving an opioid prescription.

conclusionsAmongst veterans treated for CNCP in a VA pain clinic, a history of substance use and a presence of vocation within the past year prior to presentation are variables associated with the initiation of opioids. Future studies to further elucidate the predictors of opioid prescriptions for CNCP are warranted.

Indexed as

chronic non-cancer painopioid useveterans

Identifiers

PMID40426662
PMCPMC12109717

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