European journal of pain : EJP
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Dependence-like behaviour in patients treated for medication overuse headache: A prospective open-label randomized controlled trial.
Dependence-like behaviour may complicate withdrawal and increase risk of relapse of medication overuse headache (MOH). The most effective treatment for reducing dependence-like behaviour is unknown. ⋯ Withdrawal combined with preventive medication from start is the treatment strategy that reduces dependence-like behaviour the most in MOH patients. Patients initially considered preventive treatment without withdrawal as the most feasible treatment. However, no difference in feasibility between the three arms was found at 6-month follow-up. Withdrawal combined with preventive medication is recommended for treatment of MOH.
-
Persistent pain during pregnancy is a significant health issue, which could be correlated with psychological distress resulting from inadequate social support. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between poor social support and antenatal pain is mediated by psychological distress. We also aimed to examine whether social cohesion moderates the influence of psychological distress on the relationship between social support and antenatal pain. ⋯ In this study, poor social support was found to be associated with pain intensity during pregnancy, which was mediated by psychological distress and might be buffered by desirable social cohesion. This finding could potentially help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the importance of desirable social cohesion in preventing pain among pregnant women.
-
Chronic pelvic pain persists in some women with endometriosis even after lesion removal and optimized hormonal treatment. ⋯ Women with endometriosis often have pelvic pain persisting after surgery despite hormonal therapies and these women have regional pelvic sensitisation and myofascial dysfunction. Pelvic floor muscle spasm is a major pain focus in this population. Sensitisation and myofascial dysfunction are widespread, beyond the pelvic region. On-going pelvic floor spasm may initiate or maintain sensitisation. Myofascial/sensitisation manifestations warrant consideration when managing pain in this population.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Mindful self-compassion program for chronic pain patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Although evidence-based psychological treatments for chronic pain (CP) have been demonstrated to be effective for a variety of outcomes, modest effects observed in recent reviews indicate scope for improvement. Self-compassion promotes a proactive attitude towards self-care and actively seeking relief from suffering. Consequently, more compassionate people experience better physical, psychological and interpersonal well-being. ⋯ This randomized controlled trial compares the novel intervention (MSC program) with the gold standard psychological intervention for CP (CBT). MSC improves the levels of self-compassion, a therapeutic target that is receiving attention since the last two decades, and it also improves anxiety symptoms, pain interference and pain acceptance more than what CBT does. These results provide empirical support to guide clinical work towards the promotion of self-compassion in psychotherapeutic interventions for people with CP.
-
There is a broad range of evidence on optimism dampening the pain experience, as assessed by subjective self-report. Facial expression of pain conveys supplementary information about the pain experience, is an integral part of pain communication and assists psychosocial pain coping. Nevertheless, the effect of induced optimism on facial activity during pain has to our knowledge not been examined. ⋯ This study is the first to indicate that state optimism increases the facial expression of pain as a social signal for help and empathy without concomitant changes in the subjective pain experience.