Table 2.
Responses to Pain Management Questionnaire (PMQ) items among individuals with DSM-IV-TR prescription opioid dependence and self-reported lifetime history of treatment for chronic pain (N=39).
| PMQ Item (n)/(%) | D | S/D | N | S/A | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I believe I am receiving enough medication to relieve my pain. | 11 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| 28.2% | 17.9% | 12.8% | 15.4% | 12.8% | |
| 2. My doctor spends enough time talking to me about my pain medication during appointments. | 7 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 9 |
| 17.9% | 12.8% | 20.5% | 10.3% | 23.1% | |
| 3. I believe I would feel better with a higher dose of my pain medication. | 3 | ---- | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| 7.7% | ---- | 17.9% | 20.5% | 41.0% | |
| 4. In the past, I have had some difficulty getting the medication I need from my doctors. | 10 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 25.6% | 2.6% | 17.9% | 7.7% | 30.8% | |
| 5. I wouldn't mind quitting my current pain medication and trying a new one, if my doctor recommends it. | 8 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 20.5% | 5.1% | 17.9% | 12.8% | 30.8% | |
| 6. I have clear preferences about the type of pain medication I need. | 1 | ---- | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| 2.6% | ---- | 25.6% | 17.9% | 41.0% | |
| 7. Family members seem to think that I may be too dependent on my pain medication. | 6 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 14 |
| 15.4% | 5.1% | 23.1% | 10.3% | 35.9% | |
| 8. It is important to me to try ways of managing my pain in addition to the medication (such as relaxation, biofeedback, physical therapy, TENS unit, etc.). | 5 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| 12.8% | 2.6% | 23.1% | 25.6% | 23.1% | |
|
| |||||
| Never | O/S | O/A | |||
|
| |||||
| 9. At times, I take pain medication when I feel anxious and sad, or when I need help sleeping. | 2 | 15 | 18 | ||
| 5.1% | 38.4% | 46.1% | |||
| 10. At times, I drink alcohol to help control my pain. | 21 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 53.8% | 20.5% | 15.4% | |||
| 11. My pain medication makes it hard for me to think clearly sometimes. | 12 | 19 | ---- | ||
| 30.8% | 48.7% | ---- | |||
| 12. I find it necessary to go to the emergency room to get treatment for my pain. | 13 | 18 | 4 | ||
| 33.3% | 46.1% | 10.3% | |||
| 13. My pain medication makes me nauseated and constipated sometimes. | 10 | 16 | 9 | ||
| 25.6% | 41.0% | 23.1% | |||
| 14. At times, I need to borrow pain medication from friends or family to get relief. | 7 | 12 | 16 | ||
| 17.9% | 30.8% | 41.0% | |||
| 15. I get pain medication from more than one doctor in order to have enough medication for my pain. | 22 | 8 | 5 | ||
| 56.4% | 20.5% | 12.9% | |||
| 16. At times I think I may be too dependent on my pain medication. | 1 | 14 | 20 | ||
| 2.6% | 35.9% | 51.2% | |||
| 17. To help me out, family members have obtained pain medications for me from their own doctors. | 24 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 61.5% | 23.1% | 5.1% | |||
| 18. At times I need to take pain medication more often than it is prescribed in order to relieve my pain. | 1 | 9 | 24 | ||
| 2.6% | 23.1% | 61.6% | |||
| 19. I save any unused pain medication I have in case I need it later. | 12 | 4 | 19 | ||
| 30.8% | 10.3% | 48.7% | |||
| 20. I find it helpful to call my doctor or clinic to talk about how my pain medication is working. | 24 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 61.5% | 17.9% | 10.3% | |||
| 21. At times, I run out of pain medication early and have to call my doctor for refills. | 7 | 12 | 15 | ||
| 17.9% | 30.8% | 38.5% | |||
| 22. I find it useful to take additional medications (e.g., sedatives) to help my pain medication work better. | 11 | 19 | 4 | ||
| 28.2% | 48.7% | 10.3% | |||
|
| |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5+ | |
|
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| 23. How many painful conditions do you have? | 5 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| 12.8% | 33.3% | 30.8% | 5.1% | 5.1% | |
|
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| Never | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4+ | |
|
| |||||
| 24. How many times in the past year have you asked your doctor to increase your prescribed dosage of pain medication in order to get relief? | 13 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 33.3% | 30.8% | 7.7% | 12.8% | 2.6% | |
| 25. How many times in the past year have you run out of pain medication early and had to request an early refill? | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| 15.4% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 10.3% | |
| 26. How many times in the past year have you accidentally misplaced your prescription for pain medication and had to ask for another? | 25 | 3 | 5 | 1 | ---- |
| 64.1% | 7.7% | 12.8% | 2.6% | ---- | |
| 27. How many times in the past year have you sold your prescription pain medication? | 25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | ---- |
| 64.1% | 17.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | ---- | |
| 28. How many times in the past year have you forged a prescription to secure pain medication? | 30 | 3 | 1 | ---- | ---- |
| 76.9% | 7.7% | 2.6% | ---- | ---- | |
| 29. How many times in the past year have you obtained pain medications from the internet or street sources? | 18 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
| 46.2% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 20.5% | 7.7% | |
| 30. How many times in the past year have you used your pain medication in a way other than instructed by your doctor? | 18 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 46.2% | 10.3% | 12.8% | 10.3% | 7.7% | |
A=Agree, S/A=Somewhat Agree, N=Neutral, S/D=Somewhat Disagree, D=Disagree, O/S=Occasionally/Sometimes, O/A=Often/Always