Multisite pain among United States Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with symptom clusters

Persistent pain in multiple distinct body sites is associated with poorer functional outcomes above and beyond pain intensity and interference. Veterans, and especially those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may be at risk for multisite pain. However, the research to date characterizing this presentation is limited. This secondary analysis examined the prevalence of multisite pain in a cross-sectional sample of Veterans and explored demographic, military service-related, and PTSD symptom cluster variables associated with multisite pain among those with clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Participants were 4303 post-9/11 U.S. Veterans (16.55% female gender, 58.45% White/Caucasian, M_age = 35.52), of whom 1375 (31.95%) had clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Multisite pain was defined as endorsing pain that “bothered [me] a lot” in ≥3 body sites out of 5 on the Patient Healthcare Questionnaire-15. A total of 20.03% of all participants, and 40.00% of those with likely PTSD, reported multisite pain. Female gender (OR = 1.55), older age (OR = 1.70), minority race identification (White/Caucasian racial identity OR = 0.75), history of military sexual trauma (OR = 1.99), and spine, abdomen and joint/muscle injuries (ORs = 1.66–3.68) were associated with higher odds of multisite pain. Adjusting for these potential confounders, higher z-scores on the PTSD arousal/reactivity (OR = 1.58, p <.001) subscale was associated with higher multisite pain odds. In summary, multisite pain was common among Veterans with PTSD, especially those who experienced military sexual trauma or certain physical injuries. Multisite pain and PTSD may be associated due to a shared threat reactivity mechanism.

Perspective

This study investigates the rates and factors associated with having pain in three or more distinct body sites (multisite pain) among United States Veterans. The study findings highlight the unique importance of specific posttraumatic stress symptoms and experiences associated with multisite pain.