An observational descriptive study of the epidemiology and treatment of neuropathic pain in a UK general population.

Background: This study updated our knowledge of UK primary care neuropathic pain incidence rates and prescribing practices.

Methods: Patients with a first diagnosis of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) or phantom limb pain (PLP) were identified from the General Practice Research Database (2006 - 2010) and incidence rates were calculated. Prescription records were searched for pain treatments from diagnosis of these conditions and the duration and daily dose estimated for first-line and subsequent treatment regimens.

A systematic review and mixed treatment comparison of the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia.

Objectives: To review the literature on pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia.

Methods: Relative efficacy was estimated in terms of outcome measures highlighted by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Network using a Bayesian mixed treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials reporting treatments for fibromyalgia were identified by systematically reviewing electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE; accessed February 2008) and conducting manual bibliographic searches.