European journal of pain : EJP
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After whiplash injury, some patients develop chronic whiplash-associated disorders. The exact pathophysiology of this chronification is still unclear and more knowledge is needed regarding the different post-injury phases. Therefore, studies were searched that examined temporal changes in pain processing, measured by Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). ⋯ Altered pain processing is present soon after whiplash injury, but usually recovers within 3 months. Non-recovering patients show little to no improvements in the following years. Differences between recovering and non-recovering patients can be observed by Quantitative Sensory Testing already in the acute phase. Therefore, it is considered a feasible and effective tool that can contribute to the identification of high-risk patients and the prevention of chronification.
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Review Meta Analysis
Are mindfulness treatments effective for pain in cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been recently applied in pain management and cancer care. However, inconsistencies exist concerning the effectiveness of MBIs on pain control among cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of MBIs on pain in cancer patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). ⋯ The effect of MBIs on pain in cancer patients was demonstrated in our analysis, albeit with small effect sizes. High-quality RCTs are needed to verify the efficacy of MBIs on cancer patients or survivors with pain complaints. Future trials should take into account the specific pain outcome measures (pain intensity or pain interference), the approach of intervention provision (clinic-based or remote MBI, group or individual practice), the duration and frequency of interventions and the comparators (passive or active control arms).
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Pain related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be linked with multiple site pain (MSP), and may associate with increased pain sensitivity, more frequently among women than men. The aim of the study was to examine the associations of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and tolerance (PPTo) with TMD and associated MSP in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) study. ⋯ The study shows that there are differences in the associations of painful TMD with pressure pain tolerance, pressure pain sensitivity and MSP between male and female subjects.
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Conditioned pain modulation and pain sensitivity in functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study.
Disrupted pain regulation has been proposed as a component in functional somatic disorders (FSD). The objective of this study was to examine a general population sample, encompassing three delimitations of FSD while assessing pain sensitivity and conditioning pain modulation (CPM). ⋯ Disrupted pain regulation as measured by abnormal pain thresholds has been hypothesized as a central mechanism in Functional Somatic Disorders (FSD). The hypothesis has been raised in clinical setting where patients presented subjective and objective features of hypersensitivity. The present population-based study does not support this notion. This points to the importance of further studies into the underlying pathophysiology mechanisms of FSD.
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Women with Vulvodynia experience pain, related impacts on sex and daily functioning, and depression. While psychosocial factors are associated with outcomes in Vulvodynia, longitudinal data are limited, especially in mixed/spontaneous Vulvodynia. Broad psychological models such as psychological flexibility (PF) and content-specific factors, such as body-exposure anxiety (BEA) and avoidance during sexual activities and perceived injustice, have not been adequately investigated in Vulvodynia. The aim of this study was to explore whether these factors assessed at baseline predict pain severity, pain interference, sexual functioning and satisfaction and depression 3 months later. ⋯ This longitudinal study explored the role of PF, perceived injustice and body image during sexual activities in predicting pain severity, pain interference, sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction and depression in women with Vulvodynia. The study findings reveal that two facets of PF (committed action and pain acceptance) predicted pain interference and depression over time. It may be important to incorporate these processes in treatments developed for Vulvodynia.