Articles: chronic.
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Chronic pain and mental disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide. Individuals with chronic pain are more likely to experience mental disorders compared to individuals without chronic pain, but large-scale estimates are lacking. We aimed to calculate overall prevalence of mental health diagnoses from primary and secondary care among individuals treated for chronic pain in 2019 and to compare prevalence among chronic pain patients receiving opioid versus non-opioid analgesics, according to age and gender. ⋯ This large-scale study with nation-wide registry data supports previous findings of high psychiatric burden in chronic pain patients. Opioid users had significantly higher prevalence of mental health diagnoses, regardless of age and gender compared to users of non-opioid analgesics. Opioid users with chronic pain therefore stand out as a particularly vulnerable group and should be followed up closely by their physician to ensure they receive sufficient care for both their mental and somatic symptoms.
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An opioid task force within an urban public health district sought to increase access to, and utilization of, non-opioid, nonpharmacologic alternatives for pain management. ⋯ Participants with chronic pain were open and willing to try a novel way to access nonpharmacologic consultations to address unmet pain needs. Virtual consultations with pain management experts may increase access to, and utilization of, complementary and integrative treatment modalities.
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Chronic pain is a major health problem given its high prevalence and its multiple consequences on the physical and psychological functioning of patients. It is therefore important to determine the relationship between these consequences and pain management strategies such as activity pacing. This review aimed to examine the association between activity pacing and the level of negative emotions in chronic pain. A second objective was to explore sex differences in this association. ⋯ Pacing is multidimensional and consists of various strategies of pain management which are not equally associated with negative emotions. It is important to use measures reflecting this conception to strengthen knowledges about the role of pacing in the development of negative emotions.
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Observational Study
Alexithymia in a Chinese Patient with Chronic Pain and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Alexithymia is more prevalent among those with patients living with chronic pain. Information on the prevalence of alexithymia in Chinese patients with chronic pain and associated factors is limited. ⋯ Patients with chronic pain exhibiting alexithymia were at higher risk of pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and lower self-efficacy, compared with patients without alexithymia. It is important to identify and pay a special attention in clinical practice to patients with chronic pain exhibiting alexithymia, as these individuals are unable to properly express their emotions.
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As pain is processed by an extensive network of brain regions, the structural status of the brain may affect pain perception. We aimed to study the association between gray matter volume (GMV) and pain sensitivity in a general population. We used data from 1522 participants in the seventh wave of the Tromsø study, who had completed the cold pressor test (3°C, maximum time 120 seconds), undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, and had complete information on covariates. ⋯ The effect remained significant after additional adjustment for chronic pain (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97) or depression (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94). In post hoc analyses, positive associations between standardized GMV and pain tolerance were seen in most brain regions, with larger effect sizes in regions previously shown to be associated with pain. In conclusion, our findings indicate that larger GMV is associated with longer pain tolerance in the general population.