Predictors of pain intensity and pain functioning in patients with the hepatitis C virus

Objective: To examine the relationships among biological and psychological variables with pain intensity and pain functioning in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods: Participants were 49 patients with HCV who completed well-validated assessments of pain intensity and pain functioning. Participants also completed measures of psychological functioning, and medical records were reviewed. Results: Thirty-three (67.3%) of 49 participants had a current diagnosis for a pain-related condition. Regression analyses were conducted to examine variables associated with pain intensity and pain functioning. The psychosocial variables, particularly depression severity, accounted for an additional 21% of the variance in average pain intensity (P=002) and 33% of the variance in pain functioning (P<001). These results remained significant even after controlling for demographic characteristics, opioid prescription status and disease-related variables. Conclusion: These results provide preliminary support for the role of biological and psychological factors in the development and exacerbation of pain in HCV patients. Future studies should include a more comprehensive assessment of pain-related factors and examine their associations with additional disease-related and biological variables. Developing a better understanding of the factors associated with pain in HCV patients will help to inform future interventions for chronic pain in this patient population.