The association of the use of opioid and psychotropic medications with workers' compensation claim costs and lost work time.

Abstract

To study the relationship between the use of psychotropic and opioid medications with workers' compensation disability and costs. The study population included lost time claimants injured between 1999 and 2002 followed to closing in December 31, 2009. Controlling for age, sex, marital status, attorney involvement, and spinal surgeries, multivariate logistic regression revealed that odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of claim costs ≥$100,000 compared with claimants who were never prescribed opioids were 4.3 for short-acting opioids only; 8.6 for any use of long-acting opioids; 2.8 for any use of hypnotics; 2.6 for any use of antipsychotics; 1.6 for any use of anti-anxiety agents; and 2.9 for any use of antidepressants. The use of psychotropic and opioid medications was associated with high workers' compensation costs and prolonged disability.