Der Schmerz
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Little is known about the phenomenon of pain in German nursing homes. In particular, it is unknown to what extent and severity pain occurs among residents and how their pain can be described. ⋯ Pain in nursing homes is a challenge that needs more attention as it has considerable negative consequences for the persons concerned. The extent of pain in the studied facilities indicates an urgent need for action on the part of all professionals caring for residents in nursing homes.
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The recommended treatment for chronic pain is multidisciplinary with a cognitive approach. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the education level of patients was predictive of main outcome dimensions (pain intensity, disability, depression, physical functioning and return to work). ⋯ If education level proves to be an intervening variable in further research, education adjusted treatment programs should be developed and evaluated.
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Pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs) represent a novel method for the evaluation of peripheral and central nociceptive pathways, e.g. in the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) or after therapeutic interventions for headache. Compared to contact heat-evoked and laser-evoked potentials, recording of PREPs is less stressful for the subjects and technically less demanding. ⋯ They have also been evaluated after interventional methods, such as direct current stimulation (tDCS). The article reviews and discusses the advantages and pitfalls of this technique in the context of recent clinical studies as compared to other paradigms of peripheral electrical stimulation and delineates perspectives and possible indications.