The Clinical journal of pain
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To evaluate the effects of gabapentin on pain scores and opiate use. ⋯ Gabapentin may be a useful adjunct for treating neuropathic pain with a minimum of side effects. Particular advantage may be gained with the use of this drug for postherpetic neuralgia and direct peripheral nerve injuries.
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The objective was to assess the analgesic, antihyperesthesic, and anti-allodynic properties of SNX-111 in neuropathic pain. ⋯ SNX-111, administered intrathecally by continuous, constant-rate infusion, produced dose-dependent pain relief in a 43-year-old male patient with a 23-year history of intractable deafferentation and phantom limb pain secondary to brachial plexus avulsion and subsequent amputation. Dizziness, blurred vision, and lateral-gaze nystagmus were dose-dependent side effects that resolved with decreasing dose levels. Complete pain relief was achieved in this patient without side effects after dose adjustment. We conclude that SNX-111 is a potent analgesic, antihyperesthesic, and antiallodynic agent. Controlled studies of SNX-111 in patients with malignant and nonmalignant pain syndromes are warranted and are under way.
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Clinical Trial
Assessment of postoperative pain management: patient satisfaction and perceived helpfulness.
Increasing attention has been given to the assessment of patient satisfaction as a way to monitor quality of care in hospital settings. Postoperative patient satisfaction has been thought to be related to level of pain intensity, expectations of outcome, perceived concern by the staff, and helpfulness of treatments. The aim of this study is to develop a simple, reliable measure to assess pain and satisfaction in postsurgical patients and to examine factors related to patient satisfaction. ⋯ These results highlight the important influence of adequate treatment of postoperative pain and perceived concern by the hospital staff on patient satisfaction.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Assessing depression among persons with chronic pain using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory: a comparative analysis.
This study examined the ability of two self-report questionnaires, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), to discriminate between chronic pain patients with and without major depression. Since previous research has suggested that medical conditions such as chronic pain can influence the endorsement of items that measure neurovegetative symptoms of depression, the accuracy of each of these questionnaires was also assessed eliminating these items. ⋯ The results suggest that both questionnaires have good predictive validity among chronic pain patients, and decisions regarding the use of one questionnaire rather than the other may depend upon the goals of the user and the setting within which the questionnaire is used.
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Clinical Trial
The stability of pain coping strategies in young children adolescents, and adults with sickle cell disease over an 18-month period.
The current study assessed stability of pain coping strategies over an 18-month period in adults, adolescents, and young children with sickle cell disease. ⋯ As compared with the highly stable coping evidenced in adults with SCD, coping in children and adolescents with SCD is more variable. Thus, interventions should target children early before maladaptive coping patterns become entrenched.