Comorbid Chronic Pain and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Current Rates and Psychiatric Comorbidities Among U.S. Military Veterans

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction This study reports rates of comorbid chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among U.S. military veterans and rates of psychiatric comorbidities among those with both chronic pain and PTSD. Materials and Methods This study utilized National Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data to identify all veterans treated for chronic pain or PTSD in 2023. Multivariable logistic regression models determined the likelihood of each psychiatric comorbidity for those with chronic pain and PTSD relative to those with chronic pain only and separately to those with PTSD only, after adjusting for demographic variables and all other psychiatric comorbidities. Results Of the 5,846,453 service users of the VA in 2023, a total of 2,091,391 (35.8%) met the criteria for chronic pain and 850,191 (14.5%) met the criteria for PTSD. Furthermore, 21.6% of those with chronic pain also had PTSD and over half (53.2%) of those with PTSD also met the criteria for chronic pain (n = 452,113). Veterans with chronic pain and PTSD were significantly more likely to be women, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latina, and urban dwelling. Veterans with chronic pain and PTSD had significantly higher rates of all selected comorbidities relative to veterans with chronic pain only. Conclusions Patients with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD may benefit from tailored treatments to address the additive impact of these conditions.