Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Does Not Compromise Behavioral Pain Treatment: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial Among Veterans

Abstract

Background: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain evince different presentations, coping strategies, and treatment utilization patterns than individuals with chronic pain alone. Theorists have suggested that comorbid PTSD may complicate chronic pain treatment, and that integrated pain and PTSD treatment may be preferable to pain treatment alone. Objective: Assess whether comorbid PTSD moderates Veterans’ response to yoga and/or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pain. Methods: Veterans with Gulf War illness (n = 75) were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory at baseline and posttreatment as part of a randomized clinical trial. PTSD status was abstracted from participants’ medical records. Results: PTSD+ participants (n = 41) reported more pain at baseline than PTSD− participants (n = 34; d =.66, p