Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of antihyperalgesic drugs on experimentally induced hyperalgesia in man.
In a double-blind, cross-over study, ibuprofen (600 mg), a peripherally-acting selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist (7.5 mg), or placebo were given orally in experiments on healthy volunteers 1 h before assessment of pain thresholds to radiant heat and of pain ratings to controlled mechanical impact stimuli. Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia had been induced 24 h before by irradiating skin patches on the ventral side of the upper leg. UVB irradiation induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia at radiation dosages of three times the minimal erythema dose. ⋯ In contrast, the kappa-agonist showed no antihyperalgesic efficacy in the chosen models. It is concluded that the UVB model, as the pinch model, is suitable for establishing antihyperalgesic effects of NSAIDs, but probably not of kappa-receptor agonists, in healthy human volunteers. Compared to the pinch stimulus model, the UVB model offers additional advantages: (a) drugs may be tested after induction of the skin trauma by UV and this situation is more similar to the clinical use of antihyperalgesic drugs. (b) Since mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia is induced by UVB, drug effects can be tested upon both forms of hyperalgesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of nortriptyline for chronic low back pain.
To assess the efficacy of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, as an analgesic in chronic back pain without depression, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trial in 78 men recruited from primary care and general orthopedic settings, who had chronic low back pain (pain at T-6 or below on a daily basis for 6 months or longer). Of these 57 completed the trial; of the 21 who did not complete, four were withdrawn because of adverse effects. The intervention consisted of inert placebo or nortriptyline titrated to within the therapeutic range for treating major depression (50-150 ng/ml). ⋯ Also, completers with radicular pain on nortriptyline (n = 5) had significantly (P < 0.05) better analgesia and overall outcome than did those on placebo (n = 6). The results suggest noradrenergic mechanisms are relevant to analgesia in back pain. This modest reduction in pain intensity suggests that physicians should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of nortriptyline in chronic back pain without depression.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The influence of film-induced mood on pain perception.
It has been shown that a person's mood can influence pain tolerance. Films have been used as a means of inducing a desired mood. The effect on pain perception of film type and film length to induce mood was investigated. ⋯ Each subject was given a baseline trial of cold-pressor pain, a trial immediately following the film and a trial 30 min later. Results indicated an advantage in increased pain tolerance for the humorous film and an increased pain tolerance for the longer film regardless of type only after the 30-min waiting period. Results were discussed from a pain theoretical perspective with emphasis placed on returning to psychological manipulations of the sensory aspects of pain and not just the cognitive/emotional/motivational dimensions.
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Clinical Trial
Investigating the relationship between pain and discomfort and quality of life, using the WHOQOL.
The aim of this study was to examine the impact of pain on quality of life and its components in a representative sample of 320 well people, and patients selected from all major categories of illness. Quality of life was assessed using a new, multidimensional, multilingual, generic profile designed for cross-cultural use in health care, i.e. the WHOQOL. Within the WHOQOL, pain and discomfort is one of 29 areas or facets of quality of life, grouped into six domains. ⋯ Intense affective pain is particularly detrimental to a good quality of life. The psychometric properties of the pain and discomfort facet of the WHOQOL and WHOQOL-100 were assessed. Internal consistency (reliability), discriminant and criterion/concurrent validity were found to be good to excellent, justifying the use of this instrument with a range of chronic and acute pain patients.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparative study of iatrogenesis, medication abuse, and psychiatric morbidity in chronic pain patients with and without medically explained symptoms.
We report a case control study comparing patients attending a pain clinic whose symptoms were not considered medically explained (cases) with those whose symptoms were considered medically explained (controls). Principal comparisons were psychiatric morbidity, medication use, and iatrogenic factors assessed by interview, and questionnaire measures of anxiety, depression, functional impairment, coping strategies and pain beliefs. ⋯ I.: 1.4,8.2), and of possible iatrogenic factors. There were no significant differences with regards to medication abuse/dependence.