Objective pain sensitivity affects sleep quality in opioid dependent males on methadone maintenance therapy

Abstract

Aim Pain associated poor sleep quality has been reported among opioid dependent patients on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) but objective pain data are lacking.This study aimed to investigate the rate of objective pain sensitivity and the relationship between pain sensitivity and sleep quality in this susceptible male population. Methods A total of 168 male patients from MMT clinic in Kelantan, Malaysia were included into the study. Objective pain tolerance to cold pressor test (CPT) was evaluated at 0 hour and at 24 hours after the first CPT. Malay version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index -PSQI and the subjective opiate withdrawal scale (SOWS) questionnaires were administered to evaluate the quality of sleep and withdrawal symptoms, respectively. Results The mean age of the study participants was 37.22 (SD 6.20) PrePrints ABSTRACT Aim Pain associated poor sleep quality has been reported among opioid dependent patients on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) but objective pain data are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the rate of objective pain sensitivity and the relationship between pain sensitivity and sleep quality in this susceptible male population.Methods A total of 168 male patients from MMT clinic in Kelantan, Malaysia were included into the study. Objective pain tolerance to cold pressor test (CPT) was evaluated at 0 hour and at 24 hours after the first CPT. Malay version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index -PSQI and the subjective opiate withdrawal scale (SOWS) questionnaires were administered to evaluate the quality of sleep and withdrawal symptoms, respectively. ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 37.22 (SD 6.20)