Navigating the Intersection of Pain Management
and Psychotropic Drugs

Approximately 39 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. These conditions include some type of mood and anxiety disorders, and studies have shown that these patients are more likely to be prescribed opioids and to remain on opioids long-term. Studies have also revealed that patients with mental health disorders commonly experience pain and are twice as likely to use opioids on a long-term basis as compared to the rest of the population. If we extrapolate these numbers to workers’ compensation it becomes clear that regardless of whether the psych component is compensable, the presence of psychotropic drugs is high and will have an impact on both direct drug costs as well as outcomes. This presentation will examine the type of psychotropic drugs that claims professionals are likely to encounter, the side effects and precautions related to taking them along with pain medication, and strategies to avoid complications from this intersection.