The Association of the Use of Opioid and Psychotropic Medications With Workers' Compensation Claim Costs and Lost Work Time

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the use of psychotropic and opioid medications with workers' compensation disability and costs. METHODS: The study population included lost time claimants injured between 1999 and 2002 followed to closing in December 31, 2009. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: The use of psychotropic and opioid medications was associated with high workers' compensation costs and prolonged disability.