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Veterans seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: What about comorbid chronic pain?

Jillian C. Shipherd, PhD, et al.

Figure. Pain intensity across time for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In veterans who were being treated for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), many (66%) were also diagnosed with chronic pain problems by their doctors. This is the first study to show that people with PTSD have pain-related conditions according to their doctors. The veterans who told their primary-care doctor that they had pain before PTSD treatment said that their pain was less during and after the PTSD treatment. However, this finding was based on a review of charts, so other reasons could also explain the improvement in pain symptoms. More research about treatment for veterans with pain and PTSD is needed.


Volume 44 Number 2 2007
Pages 153 — 166

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