Pain research & management : the journal of the Canadian Pain Society = journal de la société canadienne pour le traitement de la douleur
-
Case Reports Multicenter Study
Cannabis for chronic pain: case series and implications for clinicians.
Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for therapeutic cannabis use. ⋯ The results of this self-selected case series must be interpreted with caution. Small doses of smoked cannabis may improve pain, mood and sleep in some patients with chronic pain. Clinical trials are warranted to test these effects. Further prospective studies should examine the patterns and prevalence of cannabis use among chronic pain populations.
-
The psychological predictors of pain and disability were examined in a sample of people who sustained whiplash injuries during rear-end motor vehicle accidents. Sixty-five patients referred to a specialty pain clinic with a diagnosis of whiplash injury completed measures of depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, pain and perceived disability. Regression analysis revealed that psychological variables accounted for 18% of the variance in pain ratings. ⋯ In the latter analysis, however, none of the independent variables contributed significant, unique variance to the prediction of perceived disability. Psychological variables accounted for significant variance in disability ratings, even when controlling for pain intensity. Discussion focuses on the need to draw clearer distinctions between determinants of pain and disability, and directions for interventions aimed at minimizing disability following whiplash injury are suggested.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Perceived cognitive deficits, emotional distress and disability following whiplash injury.
To describe the pattern of perceived cognitive deficits in patients with whiplash injury, to examine the relation between perceived cognitive deficits and disability, and to examine the determinants of perceived cognitive deficits in patients with whiplash injury. ⋯ The potential benefits of focusing interventions on the management of anxiety and depression in the rehabilitation of patients with whiplash injuries are discussed.
-
Comparative Study
Chronic pain in Canada--prevalence, treatment, impact and the role of opioid analgesia.
To assess the prevalence, treatment and impact of chronic pain in Canada. ⋯ Chronic noncancer pain is common in Canadian adults and has a major social and economic impact. Despite growing evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of major opioid analgesics for chronic noncancer pain, less than 10% of chronic pain patients taking prescription medication were treated with a major opioid. Chronic pain is undertreated in Canada, and major opioid analgesics are probably underutilized in the management of moderate to severe pain as part of a multidisciplinary treatment program.
-
To investigate the role of disturbed sleep in the daily functioning of persons with chronic pain. subjects and ⋯ Sleep disruption is usually considered to be a consequence of the pain experience. However, the results of the present study reinforce the view that sleep disturbance may have a bidirectional relation with other features of chronic pain. Future studies should confirm that repairing disrupted sleep leads to an improvement in patients' daily activity and a reduction in their suffering.