Interpersonal dyadic influences on transitions between pain states: a narrative review and synthesis.

Pain is not experienced in isolation; it is affected by and affects other people. Interactions between parents and partners and people living with pain affect beliefs, emotions and behaviours, and pain progress and change. We searched systematically for longitudinal studies of associations between specific familial, dyadic, interpersonal factors and quantitative pain transitions.

Current state of psychological therapies for children and adults with chronic pain: Where next?

Pain is influenced by biological, psychological and social factors. Whilst analgesics are often prescribed for chronic pain, they provide little benefit for most patients. Psychological therapies manage pain and disability in children and adults with chronic pain.

How Well Can We Measure Chronic Pain Impact in Existing Longitudinal Cohort Studies? Lessons Learned.

Multiple large longitudinal cohorts provide opportunities to address questions about predictors of pain and pain trajectories, even when not anticipated in the design of the historical databases. This focus article uses 2 empirical examples to illustrate the processes of assessing the measurement properties of data from large cohort studies to answer questions about pain. In both examples, data were screened to select candidate variables that captured the impact of chronic pain on self-care activities, productivity, and social activities.

Sensing behavior change in chronic pain: a scoping review of sensor technology for use in daily life.

Technology offers possibilities for quantification of behaviors and physiological changes of relevance to chronic pain, using wearable sensors and devices suitable for data collection in daily life contexts. We conducted a scoping review of wearable and passive sensor technologies that sample data of psychological interest in chronic pain, including in social situations. Sixty articles met our criteria from the 2783 citations retrieved from searching.

A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies and surveys of the psychological experience of painful endometriosis.

Background: Endometriosis is a widespread problem in women of reproductive age, causing cyclical and non-cyclical pain in the pelvis and elsewhere, and associated with fatigue, fertility problems, and other symptoms. As a chronic pain problem, psychological variables are important in adjustment and quality of life, but have not been systematically studied.

Methods: A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted to obtain surveys and qualitative studies of women's experience of pain from endometriosis.

Pain: Behavioural expression and response in an evolutionary framework.

An evolutionary perspective offers insights into the major public health problem of chronic (persistent) pain; behaviours associated with it perpetuate both pain and disability. Pain is motivating, and pain-related behaviours promote recovery by immediate active or passive defence; subsequent protection of wounds; suppression of competing responses; energy conservation; vigilance to threat; and learned avoidance of associated cues. When these persist beyond healing, as in chronic pain, they are disabling.

Trials We Cannot Trust: Investigating Their Impact on Systematic Reviews and Clinical Guidelines in Spinal Pain.

We previously conducted an exploration of the trustworthiness of a group of clinical trials of cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise in spinal pain. We identified multiple concerns in 8 trials, judging them untrustworthy. In this study, we systematically explored the impact of these trials ("index trials") on results, conclusions, and recommendations of systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).

Characteristics of retracted publications related to pain research: a systematic review.

Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the scientific record and alerts readers when a study contains unreliable or flawed data. Such data may arise from error or research misconduct. Studies examining the landscape of retracted publications provide insight into the extent of unreliable data and its effect on a medical discipline.

Management of chronic primary pelvic pain syndromes.

Management of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) remains a huge challenge for care providers and a major burden for healthcare systems. Treating chronic pain that has no obvious cause warrants an understanding of the difficulties in managing these conditions. Chronic pain has recently been accepted as a disease in its own right by the World Health Organization, with chronic pain without obvious cause being classified as chronic primary pain.

Enhancing the Teaching Environment: 3-Year Follow-Up of a Residents-as-Teachers Program.

Background: Previous faculty-driven residents-as-teachers (RAT) models have had limited efficacy and sustainability.

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability and effects of a RAT program on resident teaching.

Methods: In October 2016, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents at a large academic institution implemented a resident-led RAT program, consisting of a steering committee of peer-selected residents with 2 faculty mentors who planned education-focused resident didactics and journal clubs, organized resident involvement in clerkship activities, and recognized residents who excelled in teaching as Distinguished Educators (DEs).

The Benefits and Harms of Botulinum Toxin-A in the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review by the European Association of Urology Chronic Pelvic Pain Panel.

Context: Patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) may have pain refractory to conventional management strategies. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a potential therapeutic option.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and harms of BTX-A injections in the treatment of CPPS.

Chronic pain produces hypervigilance to predator odor in mice.

The adaptive significance of acute pain (to withdraw from tissue-damaging or potentially tissue-damaging external stimuli, and to enhance the salience of the stimulus resulting in escape and avoidance learning) and tonic pain (to enforce recuperation by punishing movement) are well-accepted [1]. Pain researchers, however, generally assert that chronic pain has no adaptive significance, representing instead a pathophysiological state. This belief was recently challenged by the observation [2] that nociceptive sensitization caused by a chronic pain-producing injury reduced predation risk in squid (Doryteuthis pealeii).

Group Differences Between Countries and Between Languages in Pain-Related Beliefs, Coping, and Catastrophizing in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To evaluate the extent to which pain-related beliefs, appraisals, coping, and catastrophizing differ between countries, language groups, and country economy.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: Two independent reviewers searched 15 databases without restriction for date or language of publication.

Benefits and Harms of Electrical Neuromodulation for Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review.

Context: Patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) may have pain refractory to conventional pain management strategies. Neuromodulation could provide relief of pain.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and harms of neuromodulation for CPP.

The National Pain Audit for specialist pain services in England and Wales 2010-2014.

Introduction: Numerous reports highlight variations in pain clinic provision between services, particularly in the provision of multidisciplinary services and length of waiting times. A National Audit aims to identify and quantify these variations, to facilitate raising standards of care in identified areas of need. This article describes a Quality Improvement Programme cycle covering England and Wales that used such an approach to remedy the paucity of data on the current state of UK pain clinics.

Symptom reduction and improved function in chronic CRPS type 1 after 12-week integrated, interdisciplinary therapy.

Background and aims Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) often recovers spontaneously within the first year, but when it becomes chronic, available rehabilitative therapies (pharmacological management, physiotherapy, and psychological intervention) have limited effectiveness. This study examined the effect of a 12-week intensive outpatient rehabilitation on pain relief and function in chronic CRPS patients. Rehabilitation program included memantine and morphine treatment (added to patient's prior pain medication) and concurrent psychological and physiotherapeutic intervention.

CBT to reduce healthcare use for medically unexplained symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Studies have reported that medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) tend to be associated with increased healthcare use, which is demanding of resources and potentially harmful to patients. This association is often used to justify the funding and study of psychological interventions for MUS, yet no systematic review has specifically examined the efficacy of psychological interventions in reducing healthcare use.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) for MUS in reducing healthcare use.

Psychosocial factors associated with persistent pain in people with HIV: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Chronic pain remains a prevalent and disabling problem for people living with HIV in the current antiretroviral treatment era. Psychosocial treatments may have promise for managing the impact of this pain. However, research is needed to identify psychosocial processes to target through such treatments.