• Hayes CJ, Krebs EE, Hudson T, Brown J, Li C, Martin BC. Impact of opioid dose escalation on pain intensity: a retrospective cohort study. Pain. 2020 May 1; 161(5):979-988.
• Sager ZS, Wachen JS, Naik AD, Moye J. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms from Multiple Stressors Predict Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors. Journal of palliative medicine. 2020 Mar 31.
• Anastas TM, Miller MM, Hollingshead NA, Stewart JC, Rand KL, Hirsh AT. The Unique and Interactive Effects of Patient Race, Patient Socioeconomic Status, and Provider Attitudes on Chronic Pain Care Decisions. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. 2020 Mar 30.
• Higgins DM, Buta E, Heapy AA, Driscoll MA, Kerns RD, Masheb R, Becker WC, Hausmann LRM, Bair MJ, Wandner L, Janke EA, Brandt CA, Goulet JL. The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from the MSD Cohort Study. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). 2020 Mar 18.
• Koffel E, DeRonne B, Hawkins EJ. Co-prescribing of Opioids with Benzodiazepines and Other Hypnotics for Chronic Pain and Insomnia: Trends and Health Outcomes. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). 2020 Mar 18.

» View more Citations

• Veterans Reveal Positive Aspects of Routine VA Pain Screening
  Using data from a study that evaluated a strategy to improve the use of the “5th Vital Sign” of pain in primary care, investigators identified 36 Veterans from five primary care clinics and three VA healthcare systems who were interviewed about pain screening. Generally, Veterans believed that routine pain screening is positive. Findings revealed five themes that summarize Veterans’ experience and...
  
  Date: March 6, 2020
• Integrated Pain Team Programs Improve Outcomes for Chronic Pain and May Reduce Reliance on High-Risk Opioid Therapy
  This study examined changes in self-reported chronic pain-, opioid-, and treatment-related outcomes among Veterans with chronic pain following the implementation of a primary care-based biopsychosocial Integrated Pain Team (IPT) model within the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Findings showed that Veterans with chronic pain who engaged in the IPT program reported improvement in several outcom...
  
  Date: February 25, 2020
• Increases in Opioid Dosing of 20% or Greater were Not Associated with Improvements in Pain among Veterans
  This study examined the influence of opioid dose escalation on pain scores recorded in the VA electronic medical record among patients on chronic opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain. Findings showed that increases in opioid dose of 20% or greater were not associated with improvements in pain scores. In the follow-up period, dose escalators had higher average morphine milligram equivalents (...
  
  Date: January 7, 2020
• Health is the Main Concern of Newly Separated Veterans
  This large study is the first in-depth investigation of U.S. Veterans’ health and well-being as they leave military service. Findings showed that health concerns were the most salient for newly separated Veterans, with many reporting that they had chronic physical (53%) or mental (33%) health conditions – and that they were less satisfied with their health than either their work or social relation...
  
  Date: December 28, 2019
• History of Military Sexual Trauma Common among Older Women Veterans
  This study sought to determine the prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST) among older women Veterans – and investigate associations between MST and medical and mental health diagnoses. Findings showed that a history of MST was common among older women Veterans. Positive MST screens were observed in nearly 1 in 5 women aged 55-64, and 1 in 10 aged 65-74. [This is similar to the 23% prevalence f...
  
  Date: November 11, 2019

» View more Publication Briefs

» View more Studies

• FORUM, Spring 2016: Chronic pain, opioids
  ...Pain and the Science of Pain Management by Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH, National Director for Pain Management, Veterans Health Administration...
  
  
• Management Briefs eBrief-no125 - Effectiveness of Models Used to Deliver Multimodal Care for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
  ...clinically relevant improvement in rates of pain intensity and pain-related function over 9 to 12 months (NNT range, 4.1 to 12.70), as well as...
  
  
• Management Briefs eBrief-no131 - Measures for Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
  ...pain depends on the use of valid, reliable, and responsive measures of pain and pain-related outcomes. In 2016, HSR&D held a state-of-the-art...
  
  
• FORUM, Spring 2016: Chronic pain, opioids
  ...FORUM, Spring 2016: Chronic pain, opioids HSR&D Home Spring 2016 » Back to Table of Contents Research Highlight Opioids and Dual Healthcare System...
  
  
• FORUM, Spring 2016: Chronic pain, opioids
  ...with these recommendations, VA s investment in research related to pain and pain management is substantial and continues to grow. 3 This growth...
  
  

» View more Publications

» View more Cyberseminars

Videos

• Using Service Connected Disability Hearings as a Gateway to Pain Management 01/08/18
• Evaluating Integrated Pain Treatment 01/02/18

Podcasts

• Painful Conversations: Pain Management SCAN-ECHO Improves Provider Conversations with Patients about Pain Care 12/20/2018
• Pain Management and Opioid Safety 05/04/2018
• Clinical Dashboard Elements to Improve Chronic Pain Care 07/19/2017

Other Resources

• Learn more about the HSR&D Center of Innovation on Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education (PRIME) in West Haven, CT.
• Visit the pain topic page at the VA Office of Research & Development website to learn more about additional pain research in VA.
• Learn more about the NIH-DoD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory.