Identification of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use disorder: A case report

• We describe a rare case of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use disorder in an HIV-infected patient.
• NSAIDs are commonly used but rarely reported as drugs with addiction potential.
• Recognition of substance use disorders in a research setting may differ from clinical assessment.

Commonly used for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently used medications in the world. In spite of their prevalence, reports of NSAID misuse and NSAID use disorder are uncommon. This case report describes a research participant who met criteria for DSM-5 moderate substance use disorder based on her use of prescribed ibuprofen as assessed by the validated Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). This case demonstrates that the DSM-5 criteria within the MINI can be applied to diagnose an NSAID use disorder. Addiction researchers and clinicians should consider medications generally not thought to be addictive, like NSAIDs, when evaluating patients for substance use disorder.