The Clinical journal of pain
-
This study examined predictive correlations between periaqueductal gray (PAG) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) metabolite levels with deficient inhibitory endogenous pain modulation (EPM), including sensory and affective measures of pain during chronic whiplash injury (WHI). ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate deficient EPM at 30 seconds during tonic heat pain stimulation in WHI-P participants, compared with noninjured healthy volunteers or individuals with WHI-noP. In addition, quantification of PAG and ACC metabolites related to glutamate and glia predicted central chronic pain mechanisms related to loss of inhibitory EPM, while ACC metabolites characterized chronic pain described by descriptors and sensory changes.
-
The objective of this study was to determine which variables predict parental postvaccination pain ratings. It was hypothesized that after child behavior, parental sensitivity, and parental reports of worry would be the strongest predictors. ⋯ The study suggests that the majority of variance in parent pain ratings was not predominantly based on preschoolers' pain behaviors. Parental worry levels and their assessment of their child's worry were also significant predictors. Clinical implications are discussed.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Trajectories of Pain Intensity Over One Year in Adults with Disabling Subacute or Chronic Neck Pain.
The objectives of this study were to describe the 1-year trajectories of disabling subacute or persistent neck pain and to investigate whether baseline age, sex, pain characteristics, and depressive symptoms are associated with such trajectories. ⋯ Most individuals with disabling subacute or chronic neck pain show improvement in pain intensity over a year. However, a quarter present unfavorable trajectories. High pain intensity at baseline, depressive symptoms, younger age, female sex, and sudden onset of pain are factors associated with unfavorable trajectories.
-
Measuring pain in infants is important but challenging, as there is no "gold standard." The measurement of skin conductance (SC) is considered to be a measure of stress and as a surrogate indicator of pain. The objectives of this study were to identify the extent of research conducted and to synthesize the validity evidence of SC for assessing acute pain in infants. ⋯ Inconsistent findings on validity of SC exist. Future research should aim to identify the diagnostic test accuracy of SC compared with well-accepted referent pain measures in infants, study the validity evidence of SC in critically ill infants, and utilize rigorous research design and transparent reporting.