Background & Aims
The current study sought to further examine the role of impulsivity as a personality variable predisposing to prescription opioid misuse. Pain catastrophizing, as well as anxiety, depression and pain intensity, were postulated as potential serial mediators in this relationship.
Methods
The sample comprised 366 individuals with chronic pain. We conducted correlations and serial mediation analyses to examine the relationships between the study variables.
Results
Mediation analyses revealed that pain catastrophizing partially mediated the relationship between impulsivity and prescription opioid misuse. Depression and anxiety partially mediated serially the relationship between pain catastrophizing and prescription opioid misuse; pain intensity, however, did not mediate this relationship. Additionally, impulsivity was indirectly related to prescription opioid misuse through pain catastrophizing, anxiety and depression.
Conclusions
Our findings emphasize the critical role of impulsivity in prescription opioid misuse and contribute to understanding its mechanisms of action. According to these results, clinical interventions may target emotion-related impulsivity and cognitive control deficits to reduce rumination. Future research must contrast the relationships tested in this study using the specific dimensions of impulsivity.
References
Barlas, L., Unubol, B., & Dag, I.-. (2021). Comparison of impulsivity with self-report and behavioural method in patients with Opioid Use Disorder. Heroin Addiction & Related Clinical Problems, 23(5), 5–14. https://yunus.hacettepe.edu.tr/~ihsandag/index_dosyalar/BarlasUnubolDag2021.pdf
Baxley, C., Weinstock, J., Lustman, P. J., & Garner, A. A. (2019). The influence of anxiety sensitivity on opioid use disorder treatment outcomes. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(1), 64. https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pha/27/1/64/
Esteve, Rosa, Marcos, E., Reyes-Pérez, Á., López-Martínez, A. E., & Ramírez-Maestre, C. (2021). Pain Acceptance Creates an Emotional Context That Protects against the Misuse of Prescription Opioids: A Study in a Sample of Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 3054. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063054
Keogh, Edmund. (2022). Sex and gender differences in pain: past, present, and future. Pain, 163(11), S108–S116. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002738
Martel, M. O., Edwards, R. R., Jamison, R. N., Marc Martel, note O., & Robert Jamison, X. N. (2020). The Relative Contribution of Pain and Psychological Factors to Opioid Misuse: A 6-Month Observational Study. Association, 2020(6), 772–783. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000632
Ramesh, D., & Evans, H. (2020). Chronic Pain, Impulsivity, and Risk for Opioid Misuse. Topics in Pain Management, 33(12), 1–12.
Ramírez-Maestre, C, & Esteve, R. (2014). The role of sex/gender in the experience of pain: Resilience, fear, and acceptance as central variables in the adjustment of men and women with chronic pain. Journal of Pain, 15(6), 608–618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2014.02.006
Reynolds, C. J., Vest, N., & Tragesser, S. L. (2021). Borderline Personality Disorder Features and Risk for Prescription Opioid Misuse in a Chronic Pain Sample: Roles for Identity Disturbances and Impulsivity. Journal of Personality Disorders, 35(2), 270–287. https://doi.org/10.1521/PEDI_2019_33_440
Rogers, A. H., Manning, K., Garey, L., Smit, T., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2020). Sex differences in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and opioid misuse among adults with chronic pain. Addictive Behaviors, 102(October 2019), 106156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106156
Smit, T., Rogers, A. H., Garey, L., Allan, N. P., Viana, A. G., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2020). Anxiety sensitivity and pain intensity independently predict opioid misuse and dependence in chronic pain patients. Psychiatry Research, 294, 113523. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PSYCHRES.2020.113523
Presenting Author
Victoria Barrado-Moreno
Poster Authors
Victoria Barrado-Moreno
MSc
University of Malaga
Lead Author
Carmen Ramírez-Maestre
PhD
Universidad de Málaga, IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Malaga, Spain
Lead Author
Elena R. Serrano-Ibáñez
Universidad de Málaga
Lead Author
Julia Molina
MD
Centro de Salud Cruz de Humilladero, Málaga, Spain
Lead Author
Ana B. Domínguez-Márquez
MD
Centro de Salud Cruz de Humilladero, Málaga, Spain
Lead Author
Paloma de la Vega
MD
Centro de Salud Ronda Sur-Santa Barbara. Ronda (Málaga), Spain
Lead Author
Alicia Eva López-Martínez
Universidad de Málaga, IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Malaga, Spain
Lead Author
Rosa Esteve. PhD
University of Málaga
Lead Author
Topics
- Other