The Clinical journal of pain
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There are many neonatal pain assessment tools available. However, systematic psychometric comparisons between tools are lacking, particularly those comparing tools regarding their ability to differentiate between pain and stressful procedures. The aim of the present study was to compare 5 widely used neonatal pain assessment tools: Neonatal Facial Coding System-Revised, Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised, Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale, Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, and Bernese Pain Scale Neonates. ⋯ Given that the tools investigated in the present study appear to be fairly comparable psychometrically. Aspects of their clinical utility are discussed and ways of improvement identified.
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Sensory modulation patterns contribute to altered pain perception and disengagement in activities; atypical sensory modulation patterns have been associated with higher pain sensitivity, catastrophizing, and reduced function. Objectives of this study were to ascertain whether: adolescents with persistent pain had atypical sensory modulation patterns, atypical sensory modulation was associated with reduced functioning and higher pain, and pain catastrophizing mediated the relationship between sensory modulation and functional disability. ⋯ This study is the first to show that atypical sensory modulation patterns are associated with poorer function for adolescents with persistent pain, suggesting that individualized sensory-informed interventions can potentially facilitate participation in daily activities and improve QOL.
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Observational Study
Effects of Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Reflected in Sensory Profiles and Endogenous Pain Modulation.
Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation (SCS/PNS) may alleviate chronic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. The aim of this observational study was to assess sensory changes in the ON-conditions and OFF-conditions to obtain insights into the mechanism of analgesic effects of SCS/PNS. ⋯ The analgesic effect of SCS/PNS did not correlate with changes of single sensory parameters, but SCS/PNS reduced the number of abnormal hyperalgesic findings disregarding the kind of applied stimuli, suggesting a general antihyperalgesic effect. In addition, stimulation improved the endogenous pain inhibition. Both findings indicate that SCS/PNS may modulate central circuits.