Severe opioid users with a moderate or severe opioid use disorder (OUD) exhibit weakened immune system and pain tolerance, and they experience symptoms in ways that resemble anxiety disorders, according to researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine.
The findings suggest that opioids may induce impairment for REHAB pediatric patients who might be susceptible to adverse opioid reactions.
The ODD researchers selected patients whose ODD symptoms and clinical features (symptoms, physical findings, psycho-social findings and communication) were similar to Rett syndrome (unspecified or non-specific anxiety, agitation, and dysphoria).
“As such, opioids should be considered a potential treatment option for patients that exhibit these comorbidities in order to reduce the overall risk of an opioid user suffering a severe or severe opioid use disorder,” said lead author Malcolm Phelan, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Wake Forest Baptist.