Studies have shown that up to 35% of people with chronic pain also have Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) compared to 4.4 % of the general population
(Kessler, Chui, Demler, Merikangas & Walters 2005: Creamer, Burgess, & McFarlane
2001).
Understanding the prevalence of trauma experiences of pain patients can inform
patient care and education. Up to 57% of Australians will experience traumatic
events in their life time and the likelihood of PTSD after sexual assault is over 50%
(Rosenman 2002).
When compared to the general population, people with chronic pain tend to
have at least double the rates of trauma in their past (Elliott, Mok, & Briere, 2004).
The common perception with health professionals working at the Monash Health
Pain Service is that patients appear to have experienced much higher rates of
traumatic life events than other members of the general population based on
experiences raised through the course of treatment. 
The current study aimed to determine:
The prevalence of trauma history in Kingston Pain Clinic patients
2. Understand how long ago the trauma took place, ie childhood, adolescent,
adulthood, recent?
3. Has a formal diagnosis of PTSD been noted in the file
4. What was the nature of the trauma?
The results highlighted high levels of trauma both in childhood/adolescence and
particularly in adulthood. Many of these experiences were not reflected in the file or
referral information. In many cases a formal diagnosis of PTSD had not been made
despite signs suggestive of the disorder.

When compared to studies of the general population, people with chronic pain in this
sample reported at least double the rates of trauma in their past (Elliott, Mok, &
Briere, 2004).