A new study aims to understand why some race groups experience chronic pain more than others

by

Lacey Alexander

• Published on April 13, 2023 • Last modified on April 12, 2023 • Comments

In this Aug. 5, 2010, file photo, a pharmacy technician poses for a picture with hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets, also known as Vicodin, at the Oklahoma Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Edmond, Okla. Opioids including Vicodin and fentanyl patches worked no better than Tylenol and other over-the-counter pills at relieving chronic back pain and hip and knee arthritis in a year-long study of mostly men at Minneapolis VA clinics.
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File

The Acute to Chronic Pain Transition and Race Study will focus on social and bio-behavioral factors that may explain different levels of pain in Black and White patients.

Lacey Alexander

A new study aims to understand why some race groups experience chronic pain more than others.

Acute pain ends after an injury heals, but chronic pain continues after treatment. The US Department of Health says that chronic pain can last for years.

Dr. Matthew Morris is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He has studied pain differences along racial lines before and will serve as the principal investigator in the new study.

"The false belief about why these differences exist that has been around for a long time is that black individuals have higher pain tolerance than white individuals," he said. "But we see pronounced disparities in pain treatment. For example, black patients are typically less likely to be prescribed pain medications.... When you really look into the literature, it seems to be that differences in the lived experiences of these groups contribute to enhanced pain sensitivity."

The study is funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities, and will focus on both physical pain and psychological factors brought on by injuries. Morris says mental health plays a big role in chronic pain, especially for minority groups that might experience discrimination.

"Going into health care settings, individuals who've experienced discrimination based on their race or ethnicity may expect that from providers or may have even experienced that in the past," he said. "That could make it less likely that they will seek out treatment after they're discharged from the hospital following their injury."

The study is a collaborative effort between UMMC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.