Contralateral Sensory and Pain Perception Changes in Patients With Unilateral Neuropathy.

Objective: To test whether contralateral sensory abnormalities in the clinically unaffected area of patients with unilateral neuropathic pain are due to the neuropathy or pain mechanisms.

Methods: We analyzed the contralateral clinically unaffected side of patients with unilateral painful or painless neuropathy (peripheral nerve injury [PNI], postherpetic neuropathy [PHN], radiculopathy) by standardized quantitative sensory testing following a validated protocol. Primary outcome was the independent contribution of the following variables on the contralateral sensory function using generalized linear regression models: pain intensity, disease duration, etiology, body area, and sensory patterns in the most painful area.

One stop multidisciplinary pain clinic for survivors of torture.

Bianca Kuehler and Susan Childs speak to Jade Parker, Commissioning Editor: Dr Bianca Kuehler initially qualified in Germany as an anesthetist in 1993 and is on the specialist register in the UK. After moving to the UK she obtained a Diploma in Occupational Health to supplement the understanding and implication of chronic pain on the work environment. She is very interested in multidisciplinary approaches in treatment of chronic and acute pain patients and, therefore, working closely with Dr Childs opened a plethora of opportunities to develop new services including a fibromyalgia clinic and a specialist clinic for patients who are survivors of torture.

Symptom profiles in the painDETECT Questionnaire in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain stratified according to sensory loss in quantitative sensory testing.

The painDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) is commonly used as a screening tool to discriminate between neuropathic pain (NP) and nociceptive pain, based on the self-report of symptoms, including pain qualities, numbness, and pain to touch, cold, or heat. However, there are minimal data about whether the PDQ is differentially sensitive to different sensory phenotypes in NP. The aim of the study was to analyze whether the overall PDQ score or its items reflect phenotypes of sensory loss in NP as determined by quantitative sensory testing.

Different measures, different outcomes? Survey into the effectiveness of chronic pain clinics in a London tertiary referral center.

Background: Chronic pain clinics aim to improve challenging conditions, and although numerous studies have evaluated specific aspects of therapies and outcomes in this context, data concerning service impact on outcome measures in a general pain population are sparse. In addition, current trends in commissioning increasingly warrant services to provide evidence for their effectiveness. While a plethora of outcome measures, such as pain-intensity or improvement scores, exist for this purpose, it remains surprisingly unclear which one to use.

The clinical psychologist and the management of inpatient pain: a small case series.

Recent research has confirmed that between 25% and 33% of all hospitalized patients experience unacceptable levels of pain. Studies further indicate that this reduces patient satisfaction levels, lengthens hospital stays, and increases cost. Hospitals are aiming to discharge patients earlier, and this can interfere with adequate pain management.