Analgesic use disorders among orthopedic and chronic pain patients at a rehabilitation clinic

Interviews were conducted with 265 orthopedic and chronic pain patients, using a structured diagnostic instrument (ADDIS/SUDDS) concerning their use of analgesics. Twenty-two percent of the patients met criteria for analgesic use disorders in accordance with DSM-III-R; 18.5% fulfilled DSM-IV criteria. Dextropropoxyphene was the most common analgesic prescribed and was used by 47% of the patients who met criteria for analgesic use disorders. It is concluded that patients with chronic pain using narcotic analgesics are at considerable risk of developing analgesic use disorders. Assessment of the use of analgesics should be offered to pain patients taking narcotic drugs.