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Special Issues in the Treatment of Women

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Treating Comorbid Opioid Use Disorder in Chronic Pain

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Abstract

Women have higher rates of chronic pain conditions, suffering from more severe pain and functional impairment. Consequently, female patients are more likely to receive an opioid prescription and at higher dosages when treated by a provider for pain issues, compared to men. At present, rates of nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) are equivalent between men and women, but recent research has shown a larger increase of opioid misuse among women. Screening and diagnosing opioid use disorders in women requires an understanding of the unique risk factors, aberrant behaviors with prescription opioids, and the influence of comorbid psychiatric conditions that may increase a woman’s risk of becoming opioid-dependent. Furthermore, research has begun to explore the role of ovarian hormones in pain experience, analgesic response, and substance use disorders in women. Special considerations for treating women with opioid use disorders are identified with a review of pain experience, opioid treatment of pain conditions, risk factors and treatment of opioid use disorders in women, and treatment of opioid use disorders in pregnancy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Division, Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 US Veteran’s Hospital Rd, Mail Code P3MHDC, Portland, OR, 97207, USA

    Stacey Gramann D.O., M.P.H.

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  1. Stacey Gramann D.O., M.P.H.
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Correspondence to Stacey Gramann D.O., M.P.H. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Annette M. Matthews

  2. Maine Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Jonathan C. Fellers

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Gramann, S. (2016). Special Issues in the Treatment of Women. In: Matthews, A., Fellers, J. (eds) Treating Comorbid Opioid Use Disorder in Chronic Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29863-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29863-4_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29861-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29863-4

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