Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSuggestion/placebo effects on pain: negative as well as positive.
This study explores the effect of positive and negative placebo suggestions on pain induced by hand exposures to ice water. Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to one of the following interventions: (a) positive placebo suggestion, (b) negative placebo suggestion, and (c) control. The positive placebo-suggestion participants were given favorable messages about the beneficial effects of ice-water hand immersion. ⋯ Results indicate that both the positive and negative placebo-suggestion interventions significantly altered participants' pain threshold, pain tolerance, and pain endurance. Participants exposed to a positive placebo condition tolerated pain better than a neutral condition. Participants exposed to a negative placebo did not tolerate pain as well as participants with a neutral condition.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 1998
Case Reports Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialEfficacy of analgesics in chronic pain: a series of N-of-1 studies.
Rational drug treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain remains a challenge. Although commonly prescribed, the true efficacy of opioid analgesics or of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs remains to be established. Using an N-of 1 design, eight patients with regional cervicobrachial pain received ibuprofen 800 mg/day, codeine 120 mg/day, or placebo during six 2 week periods. ⋯ In none of the five subjects who completed the 12-week trial was analgesic efficacy of either drug shown. Major psychosocial and other medical influences on the subjects' status were encountered. The N-of 1 methodology is appropriated for evaluating true efficacy of pharmacotherapy in patients with regional musculoskeletal pain.