2.3.1 The role of social support networks
Social support, defined as the perception of availability of other
people in one’s social networks, appears to play a central role in one’s
ability to cope with pain61. For instance, people with
chronic pain who report high levels of social support experience less
clinical pain intensity, distress related to pain, and less
mood-disorder comorbidities than those with less
support61-63. Moreover, higher levels of social
support have been shown to reduce the occurrence of pain catastrophizing
in a cohort of 74 persons with spinal cord injury64.
Likewise, another study of 168 older adults with various forms of
chronic pain showed that high social support, as measured with the
Formal Social Support for Autonomy and Dependence in Pain Inventory,
positively impacts not only the pain experience itself and decrease
pain-related disability, but also favors higher levels of function
autonomy and independence65.
Although social connections appear to positively influence the outcomes
of OUD treatment66, (i.e., increased medication
adherence, time in treatment, number of drug-free urine samples), thus
far there are no specific studies specifically investigating the effect
of social-support networks for patients with co-occurring OUD and
chronic pain. However, given the clear benefits resulting from high
levels of social support for people with pain or OUD, it is likely to be
a benefit for those with both conditions.
Methods for assessment of social support networks have been well
described by Bryant and colleagues67 and interactive
tools such as the Columbia Social Support Network Map have been created
to simplify this assessment68. Social workers are
well-equipped with knowledge and skills to assess levels of social
support, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary care for both
chronic pain and OUD.