Health Outcomes From Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain

Brief summary (from the registry)

Although the use of opioid medications has gained increasing acceptance as a treatment option for chronic pain, there is little empirical research concerning long-term outcomes with this patient population. Several important questions concerning the use of opioids have yet to be examined in controlled studies. These include: determination of the most effective dosing regime, specification of the risk factors for medication abuse, and identification of patients most likely to achieve long-term benefits. Despite the lack of empirical data, the clinical literature to date yields two general approaches to the use of opioid treatment with chronic, nonmalignant pain. The first approach dictates that due to risk of addiction, tolerance, and insensitivity to large doses, opioid medications should be carefully controlled, with minimal and stable dosing as the eventual goal of treatment. The second approach, fostered by the beneficial use of opioids in the treatment of cancer pain, maintains that risk of addiction and abuse has been exaggerated. Proponents of this approach suggest that under-medication is a significant cause of treatment failure and non-compliance in chronic pain patients, and that prescription guidelines should emphasize patients� reports of adequate relief, regardless of dosage.

Study details

Official title

Health Outcomes From Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Behavior, Addictive

Interventions

• Behavioral: Physician Treatment Guidelines

Sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Organization

VA Office of Research and Development

Start date

2001-08

Sex

All

Age range

from 18 Years to 65 Years

Results posted

No results posted in this snapshot

Countries

United States

Total sites listed

1

Eligibility criteria