In this issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Pain Eva-Britt Hysing and her co-workers at the specialised in-hospital clinic of the Pain Center of Uppsala University Hospital describe the severely disabled chronic pain patients admitted [1]. The primary aim of their ongoing prospective study is to identify deeper characteristics of an almost intractable subgroup of patients with chronic pain. Their future goal is to use this information to assess and improve interventions tailored to special needs of this group of patients with complex multiple co-morbidities with pain as the most pronounced of many symptoms [1].
Multimodal pain rehabilitation programs (MMRP) are well established in Scandinavia, many at departments of physical medicine and rehabilitation [2]. The cornerstones of multimodal pain rehabilitation consist of physical fitness training, cognitive behavioural therapy including acceptance commitment therapy, pain education, and early actions aimed for return to work [2,3]. Patients are admitted to MMRP only if they show some degree of acceptance and willingness to actively engage in and work with all aspects of behaviour change and thoughts [2]. Most such pain rehabilitation programs in Sweden collaborate in the central Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SWEPAIN) [3]. Results from these programs are reasonably positive [2,4], also because they do not admit patients who are not motivated enough to take part in the programs [2].
More “traditional multidisciplinary pain clinics” also use similar approaches to their pain patients, documenting that patients who are better educated and have a stable social and working life when a complex pain condition develops, benefit most from such multidisciplinary pain management programs [5,6,7]. About half of the patients in the Helsinki multidisciplinary pain clinic with more complex and negative psychosocial comorbidities did not have better quality of life 3 years after treatment [5].
I am afraid that the honestly reported results from the Helsinki group [5] are typical for pain clinics that accept most patients admitted to them; it is not difficult to get nice outcome figures at a pain clinic if only patients with positive prognostic symptoms and signs are accepted [2].
This is why the specialized in-hospital pain clinic in Uppsala University Hospital is so extremely important; they accept these patients who already have several treatment failures and therefore have been given up as intractable pain patients at other pain clinics. The patients admitted at the in-hospital pain clinic in Uppsala have been considered to have a much too complicated pain condition by other pain clinicians. To illustrate the degree of complexity of the admitted patients [1], the patients reported:
On average 22 (up to 44!) high intensity symptoms other than pain.
Symptoms reported with the highest frequency, by more than 8 of 10 patients, were lethargy, tiredness, headache, difficulties concentrating, severe difficulties sleeping. Three quarters of the patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
Sixty-nine percent fulfilled the criteria for depression or depression and anxiety disorders, although most (65%) were treated with psychotropic medication.
Alcohol or drug abuse was minimal. Seventy-one percent were on opioid analgesic drugs but the doses were moderate, i.e. less than 100 mg oral morphine equivalents. Pain-intensity ratings were above 7/10 for 60% of the patients.
This interesting and high-impact study by Eva-Britt Hysing and her co-workers is the first in a planned series of publications from their practice that will eventually lead to a better understanding of these most complicated pain patients and how they can be treated better.
DOI of refers to article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.008
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Conflict of interests: None declared.
References
[1] Hysing E-B, Smith L, Thulin M, Karlsten R, Butler S, Gordh T. Identifying characteristics of the most severely impaired chronic pain patients treated at a specialized inpatient pain clinic. Scand J Pain 2017;17:178–85.Suche in Google Scholar
[2] Lemming D. Multimodal Rehabilitation Programs (MMRP) for patients with longstanding complex pain conditions - the need for quality control with follow- up studies of patient outcomes. Scand J Pain 2015;10:104–5.Suche in Google Scholar
[3] Joud A, Björk J, Gerdle B, Grimby-Ekman A, Larsson B. The association between pain characteristics, pain catastrophizing and health care use - baseline results from the SWEPAIN cohort. Scand J Pain 2017;16:122–8.Suche in Google Scholar
[4] Hållstam A, Löfgren M, Svensén C, Stålnacke BM. Patients with chronic pain - one-year follow-up of a multimodal rehabilitation programme at a pain clinic. Scand J Pain 2016;10:36–42.Suche in Google Scholar
[5] Heiskanen T, Roine RP, Kalso E. Multidisciplinary pain treatment - which patients do benefit? Scand J Pain 2012;3:201–7.Suche in Google Scholar
[6] Borchgrevink PC, Stiles TC. What should we assess in outcome-studies to learn which patients benefit from treatments in multidisciplinary pain clinics? Scand J Pain 2012;3:199–200.Suche in Google Scholar
[7] Borchgrevink PC. What is required from studies evaluating multidisciplinary treatment in pain clinics? Scand J Pain 2012;3:97–8.Suche in Google Scholar
© 2017 Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain
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- Observational study
- Perceived sleep deficit is a strong predictor of RLS in multisite pain – A population based study in middle aged females
- Clinical pain research
- Prospective, double blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing vapocoolant spray versus placebo spray in adults undergoing intravenous cannulation
- Clinical pain research
- The Functional Barometer — An analysis of a self-assessment questionnaire with ICF-coding regarding functional/activity limitations and quality of life due to pain — Differences in age gender and origin of pain
- Clinical pain research
- Clinical outcome following anterior arthrodesis in patients with presumed sacroiliac joint pain
- Observational study
- Chronic disruptive pain in emerging adults with and without chronic health conditions and the moderating role of psychiatric disorders: Evidence from a population-based cross-sectional survey in Canada
- Educational case report
- Management of patients with pain and severe side effects while on intrathecal morphine therapy: A case study
- Clinical pain research
- Behavioral inhibition, maladaptive pain cognitions, and function in patients with chronic pain
- Observational study
- Comparison of patients diagnosed with “complex pain” and “somatoform pain”
- Original experimental
- Patient perspectives on wait times and the impact on their life: A waiting room survey in a chronic pain clinic
- Topical review
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- Clinical pain research
- A multi-facet pain survey of psychosocial complaints among patients with long-standing non-malignant pain
- Clinical pain research
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- Observational study
- Long-term treatment in chronic noncancer pain: Results of an observational study comparing opioid and nonopioid therapy
- Clinical pain research
- COMBAT study – Computer based assessment and treatment – A clinical trial evaluating impact of a computerized clinical decision support tool on pain in cancer patients
- Original experimental
- Quantitative sensory tests fairly reflect immediate effects of oxycodone in chronic low-back pain
- Editorial comment
- Spatial summation of pain and its meaning to patients
- Original experimental
- Effects of validating communication on recall during a pain-task in healthy participants
- Original experimental
- Comparison of spatial summation properties at different body sites
- Editorial comment
- Behavioural inhibition in the context of pain: Measurement and conceptual issues
- Clinical pain research
- A randomized study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a single dose of the TRPV1 antagonist mavatrep in patients with osteoarthritis
- Editorial comment
- Quantitative sensory tests (QST) are promising tests for clinical relevance of anti–nociceptive effects of new analgesic treatments
- Educational case report
- Pregabalin as adjunct in a multimodal pain therapy after traumatic foot amputation — A case report of a 4-year-old girl
- Editorial comment
- Severe side effects from intrathecal morphine for chronic pain after repeated failed spinal operations
- Editorial comment
- Opioids in chronic pain – Primum non nocere
- Editorial comment
- Finally a promising analgesic signal in a long-awaited new class of drugs: TRPV1 antagonist mavatrep in patients with osteoarthritis (OA)
- Observational study
- The relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain, anxiety and mindfulness: Adjustments to the Fear-Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain
- Clinical pain research
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- Editorial comment
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- Editorial comment
- Broadening the fear-avoidance model of chronic pain?
- Observational study
- Identifying characteristics of the most severely impaired chronic pain patients treated at a specialized inpatient pain clinic
- Editorial comment
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- Editorial comment
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- Editorial comment
- Why can multimodal, multidisciplinary pain clinics not help all chronic pain patients?
- Topical review
- Individual variability in clinical effect and tolerability of opioid analgesics – Importance of drug interactions and pharmacogenetics
- Editorial comment
- A new treatable chronic pain diagnosis? Flank pain caused by entrapment of posterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves, lateral ACNES coined LACNES
- Clinical pain research
- PhKv a toxin isolated from the spider venom induces antinociception by inhibition of cholinesterase activating cholinergic system
- Clinical pain research
- Lateral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (LACNES): A previously unrecognized cause of intractable flank pain
- Editorial comment
- Towards a structured examination of contextual flexibility in persistent pain
- Clinical pain research
- Context sensitive regulation of pain and emotion: Development and initial validation of a scale for context insensitive avoidance
- Editorial comment
- Is the search for a “pain personality” of added value to the Fear-Avoidance-Model (FAM) of chronic pain?
- Editorial comment
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- Editorial comment
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- Observational study
- Assessment and treatment at a pain clinic: A one-year follow-up of patients with chronic pain
- Clinical pain research
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study: Investigation of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antihyperalgesic activity of L-4-chlorokynurenine in healthy volunteers
- Clinical pain research
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- Observational study
- The use of rapid onset fentanyl in children and young people for breakthrough cancer pain
- Original experimental
- Acid-induced experimental muscle pain and hyperalgesia with single and repeated infusion in human forearm
- Original experimental
- Swearing as a response to pain: A cross-cultural comparison of British and Japanese participants
- Clinical pain research
- The cognitive impact of chronic low back pain: Positive effect of multidisciplinary pain therapy
- Clinical pain research
- Central sensitization associated with low fetal hemoglobin levels in adults with sickle cell anemia
- Topical review
- Targeting cytokines for treatment of neuropathic pain
- Original experimental
- What constitutes back pain flare? A cross sectional survey of individuals with low back pain
- Original experimental
- Coping with pain in intimate situations: Applying the avoidance-endurance model to women with vulvovaginal pain
- Clinical pain research
- Chronic low back pain and the transdiagnostic process: How do cognitive and emotional dysregulations contribute to the intensity of risk factors and pain?
- Original experimental
- The impact of the Standard American Diet in rats: Effects on behavior, physiology and recovery from inflammatory injury
- Educational case report
- Erector spinae plane (ESP) block in the management of post thoracotomy pain syndrome: A case series
- Original experimental
- Hyperbaric oxygenation alleviates chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain and inhibits GABAergic neuron apoptosis in the spinal cord
- Observational study
- Predictors of chronic neuropathic pain after scoliosis surgery in children
- Clinical pain research
- Hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of chronic pain: An intervention study in a university hospital
- Clinical pain research
- A novel miniature, wireless neurostimulator in the management of chronic craniofacial pain: Preliminary results from a prospective pilot study
- Clinical pain research
- Implicit evaluations and physiological threat responses in people with persistent low back pain and fear of bending
- Original experimental
- Unpredictable pain timings lead to greater pain when people are highly intolerant of uncertainty
- Original experimental
- Initial validation of the exercise chronic pain acceptance questionnaire
- Clinical pain research
- Exploring patient experiences of a pain management centre: A qualitative study
- Clinical pain research
- Narratives of life with long-term low back pain: A follow up interview study
- Observational study
- Pain catastrophizing, perceived injustice, and pain intensity impair life satisfaction through differential patterns of physical and psychological disruption
- Clinical pain research
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- Original experimental
- Evaluation of external vibratory stimulation as a treatment for chronic scrotal pain in adult men: A single center open label pilot study
- Observational study
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- Clinical pain research
- Visualization of painful inflammation in patients with pain after traumatic ankle sprain using [11C]-D-deprenyl PET/CT
- Original experimental
- Developing a model for measuring fear of pain in Norwegian samples: The Fear of Pain Questionnaire Norway
- Topical review
- Psychoneuroimmunological approach to gastrointestinal related pain
- Letter to the Editor
- Do we need an updated definition of pain?
- Narrative review
- Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?
- Book Review
- Physical Diagnosis of Pain
- Book Review
- Advances in Anesthesia
- Book Review
- Atlas of Pain Management Injection Techniques
- Book Review
- Sedation: A Guide to Patient Management
- Book Review
- Basics of Anesthesia