The Clinical journal of pain
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The assessment of cognitive reactions to chronic pain is less well developed than other areas of pain assessment. The aim of the first study was to revise the Cognitive Evaluation Questionnaire of Philips whereas the second study examined its properties and validity in a new sample of people with chronic pain. ⋯ The revised cognitive scales in themselves were significant predictors in Study 2, and their contribution was more effective for depression than for psychosocial functioning. The results showed promise for the revised scale and are discussed in relation to previous research, with recommendations for future research into the cognitive reactions of individuals with chronic pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Myofascial trigger points are very prevalent in patients with chronic tension-type headache: a double-blinded controlled study.
Myofascial pain syndromes due to trigger points (TrPs) are clinical entities, but more evidence is needed to evaluate TrP palpation. Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is the most prevalent chronic headache with high socioeconomic costs. The primary aim was to study whether TrP palpation can distinguish patients with headache patients from healthy controls. ⋯ These findings suggest that active TrPs are much more frequent in CTTH than in controls and the number and pain intensity of TrPs may be used to distinguish between the 2 groups. Spontaneous electromyographic activity could not be demonstrated, and the underlying biology of TrPs is still unclear.
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To review qualitative, empirical studies exploring the influence of patients' and primary care practitioners' beliefs and expectations on the process of care for chronic musculoskeletal pain. ⋯ To tackle the challenges and conflicts identified within the review, change may have to occur, not just in individual patient and practitioner beliefs and behavior, but also at an organizational and system level, for example, changes in undergraduate and postgraduate education and changes in the organization and availability of health services.
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This study investigated whether anxiety, fear of pain, or pain catastrophizing were predictive of pain-related outcomes after induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) at the shoulder. ⋯ With the exception of muscle force production, fear of pain had a consistent influence on shoulder DOMS outcomes, even after controlling for pain intensity. This study suggests fear of pain may be a relevant psychologic factor to consider in clinical studies investigating the development and treatment of chronic shoulder pain.
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The sensations of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are described as paresthesias and dysesthesias, sensations which also occur in neuropathic pain. Whether validated pain assessment tools can be used to measure the quality and severity of RLS sensations has not been explored. ⋯ The quality and severity of the sensation of RLS can be measured on the MPQ, and severity calculated from MPQ indices correlates significantly with a standard RLS severity measure. Thus the nonpainful sensations of RLS appear to be a subclinical form of pain.