The MMPI and chronic pain: The diagnosis of psychogenic pain

This study investigates the capacity of the MMPI to discriminate among groups of patients with different types of pain. When multivariate analysis of variance is used, the standard set of MMPI scales discriminates between acute pain and chronic pain but not between chronic pain of two different etiologies (surgicaliatrogenic vs. unknown). The three scales that discriminate acute from chronic pain patients are those in the neurotic triad, Hs, D, and Hy. The possibility that the unknown pain etiology group could be broken down into psychogenic pain and undetected somatogenic pathology subgroups was explored using cluster analysis. This procedure did not yield any group of patients who could be identified as having chronic pain of psychogenic origin. These results suggest that the MMPI is not a reliable tool for the differential diagnosis of chronic pain. It appears, however, that patterns of findings are partly contingent on population characteristics. Researchers should be cautious about generalizing to populations other than those from which samples are drawn.This research was supported in part by a grant from Roche Laboratories, Nutley, New Jersey, and the Anesthesiology Research Center, Grant No. GM1599-1-06, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.     

Psychogenic pain: a study of marital adjustment

The marital adjustment of patients with psychogenic pain disorder was evaluated and compared with a matched group of patients with other neurotic disorders. Pain patients spouses were found to have better marital adjustment and less psychiatric morbidity than the spouses of neurotic patients. These findings are discussed in terms of the concepts of "sick role homeostasis" and "tertiary gain".     

Comparison of a traditional paracetamol medication and a new paracetamol/paracetamol-methionine ester combination

Summary The SUR 2647 combination is a sachet formulation containing free paracetamol and its N-acetyl-methionate ester (SUR 2647). In a randomized, single-blind, between-patient study the onset of analgesia, duration and efficacy of the SUR 2647 combination vs paracetamol was investigated in outpatients after oral surgery. One group (n=27) received sachets of SUR 2647 combination 2 b.i.d. (equivalent to 2 g paracetamol ×2) on the day of operation, and one sachet b.i.d. (equivalent to 1 g paracetamol ×2) for the following two days. The other group (n=26) received paracetamol tablets 2 q.i.d. on the day of operation (1 g×4) and one tablet q.i.d. (0.5 g×4) for the following two days. Several objective and subjective assessments, including pain score on a visual analogue scale, were recorded for comparison of the postoperative courses. Median onset of analgesia for both groups was 0.5 h. The duration after SUR 2647 combination was 5.5 h as compared to 2.5 h for paracetamol. Mean pain scores showed that the SUR 2647 combination regime reduced pain significantly more than the paracetamol regime from 0.5 to 3.0 h after initiation of medication. The mean pain scores did not show a significant difference during the remaining observation period. Mild to moderate drowsiness was reported in both treatment groups, but it was more common in subjects given SUR 2647 combination.     

Management of Chronic Pain in Nursing Homes: Navigating Challenges to Improve Person-Centered Care

Despite the dynamic demands in the nursing home (NH), a definitive approach to managing chronic pain in older adults has yet to be established. Due to concerns for potential adverse pharmacologic effects, balancing appropriate pain management is a challenge among NH residents. The challenges encompass but are not limited to medical complexities, functional disabilities, and physical frailty. Barriers to the successful implementation of a comprehensive chronic pain management at the NH may include ambiguous directions on specific therapeutic interventions, insufficient guidance on treatment duration, and limited available treatment options. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ reporting requirement of adequate pain control among NH residents coupled with widely variable clinician-prescribing habits highlights the difficulties in overcoming the preceding challenges and barriers. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further complicated pain management due to its negative consequences on well-being of residents of NHs. Associated symptoms of psychosocial stress, anxiety and depression, and chronic pain symptoms can exacerbate during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased requirement for pain medications including but not limited to opioids.Pain is a multidimensional symptom and requires a strategic multimodal approach for its management. Nonpharmacologic modalities are underutilized in the NH setting and are the preferred first steps for mild pain, and nonopioid pharmacological agents can be added as a second step for a synergistic effect for moderate to severe pain. Opioids should be used as a last resort. Short-acting opioids are preferred over extended-release/long-acting opioids for chronic pain. Clinicians are encouraged to engage residents in proactive strategies in managing their pain, and to set realistic expectations toward improving their quality of life, as complete elimination of pain is not feasible in most cases.This review article provides the interdisciplinary team with a contemporary perspective of the multitude of changes and challenges influencing the prescribing as well as deprescribing of various pain medications.     

Management of Chronic Pain in Long-Term Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ObjectivesPain, a complex subjective experience, is common in care home residents. Despite advances in pain management, optimal pain control remains a challenge. In this updated systematic review, we examined effectiveness of interventions for treating chronic pain in care home residents.DesignA Cochrane-style systematic review and meta-analysis using PRISMA guidelines.Setting and ParticipantsRandomized and nonrandomized controlled trials and intervention studies included care home residents aged ≥60 years receiving interventions to reduce chronic pain.MethodsSix databases were searched to identify relevant studies. After duplicate removal, articles were screened by title and abstract. Full-text articles were reviewed and included if they implemented a pain management intervention and measured pain with a standardized quantitative pain scale. Meta-analyses calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) using random-effect models. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool 2.0.ResultsWe included 42 trials in the meta-analysis and described 13 more studies narratively. Studies included 26 nondrug alternative treatments, 8 education interventions, 7 system modifications, 3 nonanalgesic drug treatments, 2 analgesic treatments, and 9 combined interventions. Pooled results at trial completion revealed that, except for nonanalgesic drugs and health system modification interventions, all interventions were at least moderately effective in reducing pain. Analgesic treatments (SMD ?0.80; 95% CI ?1.47 to ?0.12; P = .02) showed the greatest treatment effect, followed by nondrug alternative treatments (SMD ?0.70; 95% CI ?0.95 to ?0.45; P < .001), combined interventions (SMD ?0.37; 95% CI ?0.60 to ?0.13; P = .002), and education interventions (SMD ?0.31; 95% CI ?0.48 to ?0.15; P < .001).Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings suggest that analgesic drugs and nondrug alternative pain management strategies are the most effective in reducing pain among care home residents. Clinicians should also consider implementing nondrug alternative therapies in care homes, rather than relying solely on analgesic drug options.     

2021年ACOG关于产后阶梯式多模式药物镇痛的建议及要点解读

产后疼痛是困扰产妇的常见问题,如治疗不当可能会导致阿片类药物滥用、产后抑郁和疼痛长期存在等不良后果。因此,美国妇产科医师学会（American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,ACOG）于2021年9月提出了针对产后疼痛的临床共识,专门对产后疼痛的一般管理、阴道分娩、剖宫产术后、母乳喂养时及出院后疼痛的处置给出了治疗建议与指导,强调了阶梯式多模式药物镇痛方法与个体化用药原则。推荐临床用药可遵循“非阿片类镇痛药（如对乙酰氨基酚和非甾体抗炎药）—弱阿片类药物—强阿片类药物（必要时）”阶梯式给药原则,并可合理联合用药。对此进行简要介绍与要点解读。