Current pain and headache reports
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jan 2016
ReviewPsychological Therapy in Adolescents with Chronic Daily Headache.
Chronic daily headache is a serious disease, causing significant problems in terms of reduced quality of life and disability, with pain localized to the head (headache) occurring 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months (>180 days per year). Drugs, both used as preventive medications or as pain-killers, are insufficient for the management of these patients; a more global approach has been advocated. This paper reviews existing data concerning different psychological approaches, with a focus on adolescence. This leads to evidence still unanswered questions but also the importance to include psychological treatments in the management of this potentially disabling condition.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Nov 2015
ReviewThe Biopsychosocialspiritual Impact of Chronic Pain, Chronic Illness, and Physical Disabilities in Adolescence.
The effects of chronic pain, chronic illness, and physical disability in adolescence are diverse, often influencing every facet of an adolescent's life. The biopsychosocialspiritual model provides a framework within which to conceptualize the experience of the adolescent with chronic pain and can be very helpful in guiding clinical care including creating comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment plans. ⋯ The study of chronic pain in adolescence has been largely limited by small samples, cross-sectional and observational designs, and studies that intertwine findings with pediatric and adult populations. Herein, we review the literature on the biopsychosocialspiritual experience of the adolescent with chronic pain.
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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs in association with repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. It is associated with a variety of clinical symptoms in multiple domains, and there is a distinct pattern of pathological changes. The abnormal tau pathology in CTE occurs uniquely in those regions of the brain that are likely most susceptible to stress concentration during trauma. ⋯ CTE and exposure to repetitive head trauma is also associated with a variety of other neurodegenerations, including Alzheimer disease. In fact, amyloid β peptide deposition is altered and accelerated in CTE and is associated with worse disease. Here, we review the current exposure, clinical, and pathological associations of CTE.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Oct 2015
ReviewMedical Marijuana and Chronic Pain: a Review of Basic Science and Clinical Evidence.
Cannabinoid compounds include phytocannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and synthetics. The two primary phytocannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), with CB1 receptors in the brain and peripheral tissue and CB2 receptors in the immune and hematopoietic systems. The route of delivery of cannabis is important as the bioavailability and metabolism are very different for smoking versus oral/sublingual routes. Gold standard clinical trials are limited; however, some studies have thus far shown evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for some cancer, neuropathic, spasticity, acute pain, and chronic pain conditions.
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Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common pediatric injuries. Headaches are one of the most common and disabling complaints following concussion in the acute phase and are pervasive in those who have prolonged symptoms following concussion. The body of evidence regarding the epidemiology of and risk factors for pediatric concussion and post-traumatic headache is growing rapidly, but there still is a distinct lack of strong scientific evidence to support the best treatment strategies for post-traumatic headaches in either children or adults. In this article, we will review the current evidence regarding the epidemiology of acute and chronic headaches following concussion in the pediatric population, as well as current recommendations for the management of acute and chronic pediatric post-traumatic headaches.