The Clinical journal of pain
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This study was designed to provide a cross-sectional analysis of pain prevalence, chronicity, and severity as well as the impact of pain on psychological and social variables in inpatients in various departments of a German teaching hospital. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that in most medical disciplines pain is more than merely a symptom of disease. In many instances pain should be considered a serious comorbidity that can influence the outcome of medical and surgical treatment. Recent research has shown that prevention of the pain chronification process is the most promising strategy for avoiding the development of intractable pain. Acceptance, recognition, and assessment of pain as a risk factor at an early stage are essential factors. A first step might involve routine screening for pain on admission to any hospital facility, and subsequently evaluating the impact of pain on biopsychosocial functions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of lacosamide in diabetic neuropathic pain: an 18-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fixed-dose regimens.
The aims of this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial were to confirm the efficacy of lacosamide at a daily dose of 400 mg/d and to explore the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lacosamide 200 mg/d and 600 mg/d in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. ⋯ Safety and efficacy analyses indicated that lacosamide 400 mg/d provided an optimal balance between efficacy and side effects in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Applicability of press needles to a double-blind trial: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Owing to a lack of a suitable needle procedure, it has been impossible to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in clinical studies using double-blind testing. We evaluated the applicability of a new kind of press needle (Pyonex) to a double-blind trial by comparing the press needle with a placebo (lacking the needle element). ⋯ The participants could not distinguish between the press needle and a placebo, and the data from the press needle group suggested a specific influence on patients with LBP. These findings imply that the press needle and a placebo provide an effective means of realizing a double-blind setting for clinical studies of acupuncture.
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Multicenter Study
Pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic pain.
Chronic pain and fatigue are common physical complaints among children and adolescents. Both symptoms can interfere considerably with daily life by affecting sleep and eating habits, engagement in physical and social activities, and school participation. The aim of this study was to examine the potential mediational role of fatigue in the relationship between pain and children's school functioning and overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL). ⋯ Findings demonstrated that fatigue is a significant problem for many youth with chronic pain and may be an important target for clinical intervention.
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This study describes and compares sleep disturbances in chronic pain patients while assessing the role of age, race, gender, and psychological health on sleep. ⋯ The ability of health professionals to identify individuals at risk for sleep disturbance and to understand the dynamics of sleep, pain, and psychological health could improve healthcare quality.