Supplementary Tables S2.1 and S2.2: Patient-reported factors associated with degree of pain medication dependence and presence of severe dependence among spinal outpatients

Abstract

Aims: To identify
risk factors for pain medication dependence.

Methods: Chronic
spinal pain outpatients (n=106) completed the Leeds Dependence. Questionnaire
(LDQ) and measures of potential risk factors. Participants with high (n=3)
and low (n=3) dependence were interviewed.

Results: Mean LDQ
score was 11.52 (SD 7.35) and 15/106 participants (14.2%) were severely
dependent (LDQ ≥20). In linear regression, pain intensity (β=0.313,
p<0.001), being disabled by pain (β=0.355, p<0.001), borrowing pain
medication (β=0.209, p=0.006), and emergency phone calls or clinic visits
(β=0.169, p=0.029) were associated with degree of dependence across the range
of LDQ scores. In logistic regression, pain intensity (p=0.001) and borrowing
pain medication (p=0.004) increased the odds of severe dependence.
Interviewees described how their pain influenced their pain medication use
and one described pain medication addiction.

Conclusions: Interventions to reduce pain
intensity and pain-related disability may reduce pain medication dependence.