European journal of pain : EJP
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Somatic antinociceptive effects of baclofen have been demonstrated in animal models. We hypothesized that if enhanced thermal or pain sensitivity is produced by loss of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic tone in the central nervous system, spinal administration of GABA agonists might be predicted to be effective in thermal and/or pain perception changes and pain-related evoked potentials in candidates for intrathecal baclofen (ITB) treatment. ⋯ Our findings indicate that ITB modulates heat pain perception threshold, evoked heat pain perception and heat pain-related evoked potentials without inducing warm perception threshold changes in SCI patients. This phenomenon should be taken into account in the clinical evaluation and management of pain in patients receiving baclofen.
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A prominent behavioural consequence of pain is the temporary suspension of current activities with intent to resume them later. Little is known about the effects of such pain-contingent task interruptions. This experiment examines the influence of pain-contingent interruptions on the amount of time spent performing a cognitive achievement task: We expected that people would spend more time on task when task performance was interrupted in response to pain (vs. no interruption), and that negative mood and pain catastrophizing would enhance this negative impact. ⋯ The impact of pain-contingent task interruptions was reversed in participants reporting relatively high levels of pain catastrophizing. Results are discussed with regard to interruption management in the context of chronic pain.