Correlates of pain intensity in community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate dementia

Abstract

Objectives: To identify correlates of participant-reported pain in community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate dementia.

Methodology: Associations among participant-reported pain intensity and depressive symptoms, mental health diagnoses, pain diagnoses, pain medications, level of functional ability, and cognitive impairment were assessed in 136 community-dwelling veterans with mild to moderate dementia and pain. Univariate and multiple regressions were used to assess relationships among the independent variables and participant-reported pain.

Results: Pain diagnoses (β = .23, t 132 = 2.65, P < .01) and pain medications (β = .21, t 132 = 2.48, P < .05) were correlated with participant-reported pain intensity in univariate regression models. Only pain diagnoses (β = .20, t 132 = 2.17, P < .05) remained a significant predictor in adjusted models.

Conclusion: Participant-reported pain in individuals with dementia appears to be a unique construct for which other psychosocial indicators cannot be substituted. Therefore, directly asking community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate dementia about their pain is a critical component of assessment.

Keywords: assessment; community dwelling; dementia; depression; pain.