The Clinical journal of pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Physicians' assessments versus measured symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome type 1: presence and severity.
To assess the validity of physician's judgements of symptoms associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1. ⋯ We conclude that establishing the presence of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 symptoms, except for temperature and volume asymmetries, and monitoring of disease progression based on these symptoms can be performed by clinical judgment. The severity of the individual symptoms evaluated in this study should be measured with reliable and valid measurement instruments.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pain report and pain-related evoked potentials operantly conditioned.
The purpose of the present study was to answer the question whether pain report can be increased and decreased by operant conditioning. We predicted that the conditioned pain effects would remain significant after correction for social desirability and fantasy proneness. Furthermore, we tried to show that the neurophysiologic basis of verbal pain report, defined by pain (event)-related potentials, was affected by the conditioning procedure. Specifically, it was expected that the central recording site N150-P260 pain (event)-related potentials peak-to-peak amplitude would show the largest effect. ⋯ We concluded that the subjective report of pain as well as a specific pain-related potentials component can be operantly conditioned.
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Comparative Study
Self-report and pain behavior among patients with chronic pain.
To determine the relationship between pain behaviors and self-report of pain and disability in patients with chronic pain. ⋯ Findings suggest that pain behavior observation is a valid and reliable assessment tool for use with a heterogeneous chronic pain population. Significant associations were found between pain behaviors and self-report measures of pain intensity, pain disability, and self-efficacy; pain intensity scores displayed a weak relationship; and pain disability scores the strongest relationship with pain behavior. Viewed with previous research, the results of this study indicate the value of a multimodal, cognitive-behavioral approach to assessing patients with chronic pain.
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To evaluate muscle strength, as a component of physical deconditioning, and central activation ratio, representing the performance level during testing, in patients with chronic low back pain as compared to healthy controls, and to evaluate the contribution of cognitive-behavioral and pain-related factors to the central activation ration of patients with chronic low back pain. ⋯ When interpreting decreased muscle strength in terms of physical deconditioning in patients with chronic low back pain, submaximal performance has to be taken into account. The results suggest that patients with chronic low back pain who report increased psychologic distress and a higher level of current pain tend to show increased inhibition of muscle activity, leading to submaximal performance.
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Comparative Study
Faces scales for the measurement of postoperative pain intensity in children following minor surgery.
Faces scales are commonly used to obtain self-reports of pain intensity from children. Previous research using hypothetical vignettes and pain following venepuncture has found differences in children's pain ratings as a function of the type of faces scale used. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether scales beginning with a smiling rather than neutral "no pain" face would produce higher ratings in the assessment of postoperative pain intensity in children and to compare ratings using different faces scales to those reported with an additional independent measure of pain intensity. ⋯ Children's and parents' ratings of postoperative pain intensity are influenced by the presence of a smiling "no pain" face at the beginning of faces scales, with such scales producing significantly higher ratings than scales with neutral "no pain" faces. Ratings on the independent CAS measure were more comparable to those provided on faces scales with neutral "no pain" faces. Nurses are also susceptible to the influencing effect of a smiling face at the beginning of a faces scale.