Psychologically based interventions for adults with chronic neuropathic pain: a scoping review.

Objective: As psychologically based interventions have been shown to have clinical utility for adults with chronic pain generally, a similar benefit might be expected in the management of chronic neuropathic pain (NeuP). However, to date, this has not been established, with existing systematic reviews on this topic being hampered by the scarcity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This review aimed to identify the type of psychologically based interventions studied for adults with chronic NeuP.

A Systematic Review of the Variation in Pain Catastrophizing Scale Reference Scores Based on Language Version and Country in Patients with Chronic Primary (Non-specific) Pain.

Introduction: This systematic review aimed to investigate variations of reference scores for the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) between language versions and between countries in patients with chronic primary pain (CPP) or chronic primary pain, not otherwise specified (CPP-NOS).

Methods: Electronic searches of the Ovid/Embase, Ovid/MEDLINE, and Ovid/PsycINFO databases were conducted to retrieve studies assessing PCS scores in adults with CPP or CPP-NOS proposed by the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision for any country where the translated PCS was available. The protocol for this systematic review was prospectively registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews 2018 (registration number: CRD 42018086719).

An Exploratory EEG Analysis on the Effects of Virtual Reality in People with Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury.

Neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury is thought to be due to altered central neuronal activity. A novel therapeutic intervention using virtual reality (VR) head-mounted devices was investigated in this study for pain relief. Given the potential links to neuronal activity, the aim of the current study was to determine whether use of VR was associated with corresponding changes in electroencephalography (EEG) patterns linked to the presence of neuropathic pain.

Patient names for mechanical circulatory support devices: Developing emotional insights.

Background: Patients with mechanical circulatory support devices regularly experience positive and negative emotions which are reinforced through interactions with their device. We explored emotional relationships between patients and their MCS devices through the names they assign to those devices.

Objectives: We sought to characterise device naming and suggest future developments which might capitalise on the naming phenomenon to improve patient wellbeing.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for spinal cord injury-associated neuropathic pain.

Several types of pain occur following spinal cord injury (SCI); however, neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most intractable. Invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have been studied in clinical trials to treat chronic NP following SCI. The evidence for invasive stimulation including motor cortex and deep brain stimulation via the use of implanted electrodes to reduce SCI-related NP remains limited, due to the small scale of existing studies.

Adding a Visual Communication Tool to the Electronic Health Record to Prevent Pressure Injuries.

Health care organizations no longer receive reimbursement for stage 3, stage 4, and unstageable hospital-acquired pressure injuries, which are never events that require interdisciplinary collaboration to treat and prevent. Perioperative patients are at risk for developing pressure injuries that may not manifest until five or more days after surgery. This quality improvement project aimed to inform inpatient nursing and health care professionals of the potential areas of skin breakdown after surgery using an annotated image (AI) depicting intraoperative patient positioning.

A systematic review of psychosocial design considerations for the next generation of mechanical circulatory support.

Background: Biomedical engineers are developing new mechanical circulatory support pumps. Clinicians are generating and analysing new evidence for their prescription and management. Industrial designers are generating usable solutions for wearable components and controllers.

The short-term effects of head-mounted virtual-reality on neuropathic pain intensity in people with spinal cord injury pain: a randomised cross-over pilot study.

Study Design: Within-subject, randomised cross-over trial.

Objectives: To determine whether a commercially available 3D head-mounted (HMD) virtual reality (VR) device results in significant reductions in neuropathic pain compared to using a 2D screen device in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

A systematic review of cross-cultural validation of the pain catastrophizing scale.

Background: Although it has been suggested that the different cultural and social environments between countries contribute to variations in pain catastrophizing (PC), an international comparison of PC in patients with chronic pain has not yet been reported. Prior to undertaking this comparison, a cross-cultural assessment of the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) was undertaken to explore the different factor structures among each translated version of the PCS.

Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was prospectively registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews 2018 (CRD 42018086719).

Reducing the use of opioids by patients with chronic pain: an effectiveness study with long-term follow-up.

This study addresses the problem of long-term opioid use by chronic pain patients. The study involved a secondary analysis of unanalyzed data from a published study of 2 versions of cognitive-behavioural therapy-based interdisciplinary treatment for chronic pain. In this study, we examined whether the use of opioids by 140 chronic pain patients could be ceased sustainably over 12 months after participation in the comprehensive interdisciplinary pain management program aimed at enhancing pain self-management.

Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) is Reduced in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of CPM and the Role of Psychological Factors.

This systematic review summarises evidence assessing endogenous pain inhibition in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared with healthy controls using conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and offset analgesia (OA). Evidence regarding the role of psychological variables is also examined. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

Vibration testing: Optimizing methods to improve reliability.

Introduction: In this study we assessed the test-retest reliability of a Rydel-Seiffer tuning fork and an electronic vibrameter with hand-held and fixed probes.

Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers were assessed twice in the upper and lower limb 15 minutes apart. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM).

From acute to persistent low back pain: a longitudinal investigation of somatosensory changes using quantitative sensory testing-an exploratory study.

Introduction: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is commonly associated with generalised pain hypersensitivity. It is suggested that such somatosensory alterations are important determinants for the transition to persistent pain from an acute episode of LBP. Although cross-sectional research investigating somatosensory function in the acute stage is developing, no longitudinal studies designed to evaluate temporal changes have been published.

New evidence for preserved somatosensory pathways in complete spinal cord injury: A fMRI study.

Trauma to the spinal cord rarely results in complete division of the cord with surviving nerves sometimes remaining silent or failing to function normally. The term motor or sensory discomplete has been used to describe this important but unclassified subgroup of complete SCI. Importantly, silent motor or sensory pathways may contribute to aversive symptoms (spasticity, pain) or improved treatment success.

Prevalence of Positive Troponin and Echocardiogram Findings and Association With Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients may have raised serum cardiac troponin levels on admission, although it is unclear what prognostic implications this has, and whether elevated levels are associated with cardiac causes of stroke or structural cardiac disease as seen on echocardiogram. We investigated the positivity of cardiac troponin and echocardiogram testing within a large biracial AIS population and any association with poststroke mortality.

Methods: Within a catchment area of 1.

The long-term reliability of static and dynamic quantitative sensory testing in healthy individuals.

Quantitative sensory tests (QSTs) have been increasingly used to investigate alterations in somatosensory function in a wide range of painful conditions. The interpretation of these findings is based on the assumption that the measures are stable and reproducible. To date, reliability of QST has been investigated for short test-retest intervals.

Prognostic value of quantitative sensory testing in low back pain: a systematic review of the literature.

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) measures have recently been shown to predict outcomes in various musculoskeletal and pain conditions. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the emerging body of evidence investigating the prognostic value of QST measures in people with low back pain (LBP). The protocol for this review was prospectively registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.

The impact of pain on spiritual well-being in people with a spinal cord injury.

Study Design: The study uses a cross-sectional, group comparison, questionnaire-based design.

Objectives: To determine whether spinal cord injury and pain have an impact on spiritual well-being and whether there is an association between spiritual well-being and measures of pain and psychological function.

Setting: University teaching hospital in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Descending pain modulation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. While abdominal pain is a dominant symptom of IBS, many sufferers also report widespread hypersensitivity and present with other chronic pain conditions. The presence of widespread hypersensitivity and extra-intestinal pain conditions suggests central nervous dysfunction.

Meta-analysis of placebo responses in central neuropathic pain: impact of subject, study, and pain characteristics.

The placebo response is a complex construct related to psychobiological effects, as well as natural history and regression to the mean. Moreover, patient and study design characteristics have also been proposed as significantly affecting placebo responses. The aim of the current investigation was to identify factors that contribute to variable placebo responses in clinical trials involving individuals with central neuropathic pain.

Thermal quantitative sensory testing: a study of 101 control subjects.

Quantitative sensory testing is useful for the diagnosis, confirmation and monitoring of small fibre neuropathies. Normative data have been reported but differences in methodology, lack of age-specific values and graphical presentation of data make much of these data difficult to apply in a clinical setting. We have collected normative age-specific thermal threshold data for use in a clinical setting and clarified other factors influencing reference values, including the individual machine or operator.

Early changes in somatosensory function in spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alterations in sensory processing have been demonstrated in chronic low back and neck pain. However, it has not been yet systematically summarized how early these changes occur in spinal pain. This systematic review examines the available literature measuring somatosensory function in acute (<6 weeks) and subacute (6-12 weeks) spinal pain.

The location of origin of spontaneous extracranial internal carotid artery dissection is adjacent to the skull base.

Introduction: The traditional view is that spontaneous extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection (CAD) extends cranially from an intimal tear located just beyond the carotid bulb. This paper demonstrates that CAD originates in and primarily involves a more distal segment of the artery.

Methods: A retrospective study of 54 dissected ICAs in 50 consecutive patients with spontaneous or traumatic CAD was undertaken.