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- Title
‘Two Pains Together’: Patient Perspectives on Psychological Aspects of Chronic Pain while Living with HIV.
- Authors
Merlin, Jessica S.; Walcott, Melonie; Ritchie, Christine; Herbey, Ivan; Kertesz, Stefan G.; Chamot, Eric; Saag, Michael; Turan, Janet M.
- Abstract
Objective: Chronic pain is common in HIV-infected individuals. Understanding HIV-infected patients’ chronic pain experience not just from a biological, but also from a psychological perspective, is a critical first step toward improving care for this population. Our objective was to explore HIV-infected patients’ perspectives on psychological aspects of chronic pain using in-depth qualitative interviews. Methods: Investigators engaged in an iterative process of independent and group coding until theme saturation was reached. Results: Of the 25 patients with chronic pain interviewed, 20 were male, 15 were younger than age 50, and 15 were African-American. Key themes that emerged included the close relationship between mood and pain; mood and pain in the context of living with HIV; use of alcohol/drugs to self-medicate for pain; and the challenge of receiving prescription pain medications while dealing with substance use disorders. Conclusions: The results suggest that psychological approaches to chronic pain treatment may be well received by HIV-infected patients.
- Subjects
CHRONIC pain &; psychology; HIV-positive persons; SELF medication; PAIN management; EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2014, Vol 9, Issue 11, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0111765