Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Experimental incision-induced pain in human skin: effects of systemic lidocaine on flare formation and hyperalgesia.
In order to try to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of post-operative pain, this study was designed to psychophysically determine physiological and pharmacological characteristics of experimental pain induced by a 4-mm-long incision through the skin, fascia and muscle in the volar forearm of humans. In experiment 1, the subjects (n=8) were administered lidocaine systemically (a bolus injection of 2mg/kg for a period of 5 min followed by an intravenous infusion of 2mg/kg/h for another 40 min), and then the incision was made. In experiment 2, cumulative doses of lidocaine (0.5-2mg/kg) were systemically injected in the subjects (n=8) 30 min after the incision had been made, when primary and secondary hyperalgesia had fully developed. ⋯ Pre-traumatic treatment with lidocaine would temporarily stabilize the sensitized nerves in the injured area, but the nerves would be sensitized after completion of the administration. Post-traumatic treatment with lidocaine reduced primary and secondary hyperalgesia that had fully developed. However, the finding that the suppressive effect of lidocaine on secondary hyperalgesia was temporary suggests that the development and maintenance of secondary hyperalgesia are caused by different mechanisms.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis for patients at risk: a randomized controlled trial.
Recent developments in chronic pain research suggest that effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be optimized when applying early, customized treatments to patients at risk. For this purpose, a randomized, controlled trial with tailor-made treatment modules was conducted among patients with relatively early rheumatoid arthritis (RA disease duration of <8 years), who had been screened for psychosocial risk profiles. All participants received standard medical care from a rheumatologist and rheumatology nurse consultant. ⋯ Specifically, fatigue and depression were significantly reduced at post-treatment and at the 6-month follow-up in the CBT condition in comparison to the control condition, while perceived support increased at follow-up assessment. In addition, helplessness decreased at post-treatment and follow-up assessment, active coping with stress increased at post-treatment, and compliance with medication increased at follow-up assessment in the CBT condition in comparison to the control condition. Results indicate the effectiveness of tailor-made CBT for patients at risk in relatively early RA, and supply preliminary support for the idea that customizing treatments to patient characteristics may be a way to optimize CBT effectiveness in RA patients.