European journal of pain : EJP
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The effect of lacosamide in peripheral neuropathic pain: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phenotype-stratified trial.
Neuropathic pain is common and difficult to treat. The sodium channel blocker lacosamide is efficacious in animal models of pain, but its effect on neuropathic pain in humans is inconclusive. ⋯ Treatment of neuropathic pain is often a trial and error process. Little is known about which patient benefit from which kind of medication. The sodium channel blocker lacosamide shows variable effect on neuropathic pain. Pain sensory phenotype, as defined by quantitative sensory testing, did not predict response to treatment with lacosamide.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of different nerve block strategies on the quality of post-operative recovery in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled study.
To compare the effects of three types of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks on post-operative recovery quality in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer. ⋯ Serratus anterior combined with transverse thoracic muscle plane block may be a safer, easier, and equally effective nerve block strategy than paravertebral block in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of open-label counterconditioning for reducing nocebo effects on pressure pain.
Nocebo effects can adversely affect the experience of physical symptoms, such as pain and itch. Nocebo effects on itch and pain have shown to be induced by conditioning with thermal heat stimuli and reduced by counterconditioning. However, open-label counterconditioning, in which participants are informed about the placebo content of the treatment, has not been investigated, while this can be highly relevant for clinical practice. Furthermore, (open-label) conditioning and counterconditioning has not been investigated for pain modalities relevant to musculoskeletal disorders, such as pressure pain. ⋯ Few studies have investigated the efficacy counterconditioning to reduce nocebo effects. Whereas typically deceptive procedures are used, these are not ethically appropriate for use in clinical practice. The current study demonstrates that open-label counterconditioning in a pain modality relevant for many chronic pain conditions may be a promising new strategy for reducing nocebo effects in a non-deceptive and ethical manner, which provides promise in designing learning-based treatments to reduce nocebo effects in patients with chronic pain disorders.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Virtual Reality increases pressure pain threshold and lowers anxiety in children compared to control and non- immersive control - a randomized, crossover trial.
Virtual reality (VR) is a promising non-pharmacological pain intervention because it may not only distract but also modulate pain by immersing the user in a three-dimensional 360° alternate reality. In children, VR has been reported to reduce clinical pain and anxiety during medical procedures. However, the effect of immersive VR on pain and anxiety remains to be investigated in randomized controlled trials (RCT). The aim of the present crossover RCT was to assess the effect of VR on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and anxiety level measured with the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) in children in a controlled experimental setting. ⋯ Paediatric immersive VR seems to be beneficial although well-controlled studies are pending. We investigated whether immersive VR can modulate children's threshold for pain and anxiety level in an experimental well-controlled setting. We document a modulatory pain threshold increase and anxiety level decrease compared with extensive control conditions. Paediatric immersive VR is effective, feasible and valid for non-pharmacological pain and anxiety management. All efforts to reach the goal that no child should experience pain or anxiety when exposed to medical procedures.