UTILIZATION OF PAIN MEDICATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

To investigate the nature and treatment of pain complaints in psychiat ric patients, 75 patients in a general hospital psychiatric unit who u tilized any form of analgesic medication were studied. Patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of substance abuse were excluded. The results indicate that most of the pain complaints were musculoskeletal or headaches and mild to moderate in degree. Nonopiod analgesics were commonly prescribed, and the degree of disability from the pain compl aint was minimal. Patients who did utilize pain medications stayed in the hospital significantly longer than those who did not, and this was not an effect of age or diagnosis. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.