Articles: chronic-pain.
-
The aim was to examine the relationship between gestational age and birthweight and adult chronic widespread pain (CWP). ⋯ Premature birth and VLBW are associated with increased risk of adult CWP although these effects are modest, and not statistically significant. Although not conclusive in itself, this study lends support to the theory that adult chronic pain may have its origins - at least in part - in very early life.
-
Gen Hosp Psychiatry · Jan 2012
Psychiatric disorders as assessed with SCID in chronic pain patients: the anxiety disorders precede the onset of pain.
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients referred to a tertiary pain clinic. The temporal relationship between the onset of pain and depression and anxiety and the association of psychiatric disorders with pain intensity were also analyzed. ⋯ Chronic pain patients have a remarkable psychiatric morbidity. A structured diagnostic interview, covering a large range of psychiatric diagnoses, allows a more comprehensive approach to the assessment of the patient. This should improve the management of chronic pain. However, prospective studies are needed to show this.
-
Modern theories define chronic pain as a multidimensional experience - the result of complex interplay between physiological and psychological factors with significant impact on patients' physical, emotional and social functioning. The development of reliable assessment tools capable of capturing the multidimensional impact of chronic pain has challenged the medical community for decades. A number of validated tools are currently used in clinical practice however they all rely on self-reporting and are therefore inherently subjective. In this study we show that a comprehensive analysis of physical activity (PA) under real life conditions may capture behavioral aspects that may reflect physical and emotional functioning. ⋯ The defined measures of PA showed good discriminative features. The results suggest that significant information about pain-related functional limitations is captured by the structural complexity of PA barcodes, which decreases when the intensity of pain increases. We conclude that a comprehensive analysis of daily-life PA can provide an objective appraisal of the intensity of pain.
-
Int Anesthesiol Clin · Jan 2012
Special considerations and recommendations for interventions for pediatric chronic pain.
In select cases, interventional pain management techniques can bean effective adjunct to the multidisciplinary care of pediatric patients with chronic pain. The secret to success stems in proper patient selection and in delineating clear goals and expectations—motivated patients do well. Comfort measures ranging from distraction through general anesthesia should be employed to alleviate anxiety and distress, and to provide optimal working conditions for the proceduralist. In the appropriate context, the occasion to provide interventional care can be a rewarding role for the anesthesiologist to play in chronic pediatric pain patient care.
-
Questions from patients about analgesic pharmacotherapy and responses from authors are presented to help educate patients and make them more effective self-advocates. The topic addressed in this issue is untreated/undertreated chronic pain and the physical, emotional, and social consequences that can profoundly affect a patient's quality of life. ⋯ Chronic pain is the enemy of happiness. Further, chronic pain can activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the fight-or-flight response.