Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2019
Clinical TrialCebranopadol, a novel first-in-class analgesic drug candidate: first experience with cancer-related pain for up to 26 weeks.
Pain is one of the most prevalent symptoms associated with cancer. Strong opioids are commonly used in the analgesic management of the disease, but carry the risk of severe side effects. Cebranopadol is a first-in-class drug candidate, combining nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide and opioid peptide receptor agonism. For cancer patients, frequently experiencing multimorbidities and often exposed to polypharmacy, cebranopadol is easy to handle given its once-daily dosing, the small tablet size that enables swallowing, and the option to flexibly titrate to an effective dose. ⋯ Our data suggest that cebranopadol was safe and well tolerated when administered for up to 26 weeks in patients with chronic cancer-related pain who were previously treated with cebranopadol or morphine prolonged release.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2019
What is missing for you to be happy? Comparison of the pursuit of happiness among cancer patients, informal caregivers and healthy individuals.
After cancer diagnosis, personal value priorities may change in a way that would transform such values and how life is perceived by cancer patients and their caregivers, including happiness and its pursuit. ⋯ Regardless of the group they were in, participants sought happiness in what they considered to be important to their lives, but it was something they did not have at the time of the interview. Psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral strategies focused on how to deal with life expectations among people facing cancer are awaited.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2019
Use of Cluster Analysis to Delineate Symptom Profiles in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patient Population.
The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDSs) are a set of rare heritable disorders of connective tissue, characterized by defects in the structure and synthesis of extracellular matrix elements that lead to a myriad of problems including joint hypermobility and skin abnormalities. Because EDS affects multiple organ systems, defining clear boundaries and recognizing overlapping clinical features shared by disease phenotypes is challenging. ⋯ The subgroups aligned with clinical observation of the heterogeneous nature of EDS, with overlapping symptoms between subtypes and a wide divergence in degree of symptoms within subtypes. This exploratory study helps characterize the various phenotypes and comorbidities of patients with EDS.
-
Although medical cannabis (MC) policies continue to evolve around the world, the integration of MC into clinical practice remains highly debated within the medical community. ⋯ Clinical practices related to MC may be influenced by nonmedical factors, and this may be particularly prevailing in the field of chronic pain, suggesting that MC may be particularly contentious in this field.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2019
Perception of multiple sclerosis impact and treatment efficacy beliefs: mediating effect of patient's illness and self-appraisals.
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience many negative, seriously aggravating disease symptoms, and hence, research studies are utmost required to improve their coping with symptoms. Our research is an attempt to show ways to increase participation of patients with MS in the treatment and treatment planning process, as well as in managing the symptoms of the disease. ⋯ Our results indicate that worse perception of physical condition in patients with MS is associated with more negative treatment efficacy beliefs, and that this association is mediated by self-efficacy and illness perception. To inhibit the increase of negative treatment efficacy beliefs, health care specialists can work on improving self-efficacy and illness appraisals.