PAIN IN AMBULATORY AIDS PATIENTS .2. IMPACT OF PAIN ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE

The relationships among pain, psychological distress and other quality of life concerns were examined through a prospective cross-sectional survey of 438 ambulatory AIDS patients recruited from health care faci lities in New York City. In this sample, 274 (62.6%) patients reported frequent or persistent pain during the prior 2 wks. Patients with and without pain completed a questionnaire packet that included measures of psychological symptom distress (Brief Symptom Inventory and the Psy chological Distress Subscale of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale) , depression (Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale), social support (Social Support Questionnaire), and overall quality of life (Functional Living Index - Cancer, modified for AIDS). Multivaria te analyses (MANOVA, multiple regression) revealed significant associa tions between the presence and intensity of pain and scores on the mea sures of psychological distress, depression, hopelessness, and quality of life (P < 0.0001 for most analyses). Perceived adequacy of social support was also significantly associated with lower levels of psychol ogical distress and depression, and better quality of life. These resu lts demonstrate the significant relationships between pain, psychologi cal well-being, and quality of life, and affirm the need to provide ad equate treatment of pain in patients with AIDS.