Current pain and headache reports
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Apr 2004
ReviewPsychotherapeutic issues encountered in the psychotherapy of chronic pain patients.
The clinical art of applying scientific knowledge to a patient's circumstances of suffering is especially challenging when practicing psychotherapy with people who are experiencing chronic pain. Health psychology has made substantial contributions by showing that psychosocial factors are essential in explaining the phenomenon of pain and, particularly, its chronic progression to debilitating degrees. In addition, clinical health psychology has developed empirically supported treatments that improve the lives of chronic pain sufferers across many dimensions. This article is not concerned with reviewing that evidence or the treatment programs, but with noting some issues pain management psychotherapists may face in using this knowledge effectively to improve the lives of their patients.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Apr 2004
ReviewRecognition and treatment of cluster headache in the emergency department.
Cluster headache has a dramatic presentation marked by rapidly escalating intensity of pain and prominent signs of autonomic dysfunction. Despite its distinctive features, diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis are common. Prompt recognition of this headache disorder provides an opportunity for effective treatment. This article provides a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with cluster headache in the emergency room setting.
-
This paper identifies legal issues of relevance to the diagnosis and treatment of cluster headache, including areas of actual and potential malpractice liability. Legal topics that are relevant to cluster headache can be divided into five categories: diagnostic-related issues, risks inherent in the disease process, prescribing and treatment-related problems, research-related issues, and disability determination.
-
Migraine is a major source of pain-related disability. Despite the personal and societal impact of this disorder, migraine continues to be misdiagnosed and undertreated even though well-established diagnostic criteria and safe and effective treatments are available. The recent revision of diagnostic criteria for headache diagnosis and consensus guidelines for migraine treatment hopefully will promote better medical care for headache sufferers. Advancements in understanding the neurobiology of migraine will guide the development of new treatments.
-
This article focuses on the scientific evidence for pharmacotherapy for migraine prevention. Non-pharmacologic approaches are not discussed. However, it is important to remember the complementary value of some of these strategies (eg, biofeedback) to migraine treatment.