What is it about?
The current psychiatric diagnostic manual (DSM-5) criteria for Opioid Use Disorder were adapted to make room for long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain, which was very popular at the time of its publication. We argue that the opioid-adapted and pain-adapted versions of these criteria are NOT more valid than the unadapted criteria.
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Why is it important?
Our endogenous opioid system (e.g. endorphins) evolved to modulate both physical pain and social pain to promote our survival. It is not possible to separate these using laws or policies into legitimate opioid use for physical pain and illegitimate opioid misuse for social or emotional pain.
Perspectives
Opioid risks arise from their rewarding and dependence-inducing properties and are related to dose and duration of exposure. These risks are not eliminated because they are used for pain relief.
Mark Sullivan
University of Washington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Understanding the Risks of Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain, American Journal of Psychiatry, October 2022, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220592.
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