Pain Intensity as a Lagging Indicator of Patient Improvement: Longitudinal Relationships With Sleep, Psychiatric Distress, and Function in Multidisciplinary Care

Are opioids effective analgesics and is physiological opioid dependence benign? Revising current assumptions to effectively manage long-term opioid therapy and its deprescribing

A re-examination of clinical principles of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain is long overdue amid the ongoing opioid crisis. Most patients on LTOT report ineffectiveness (poor pain control, function and health) but still find deprescribing challenging. Although prescribed as analgesics, opioids more likely provide pain relief primarily through reward system actions (enhanced relief and motivation) and placebo effect and less through antinociceptive effects. The unavoidable physiologic LTOT dependence can automatically lead to a paradoxical worsening of pain, disability and medical instability (maladaptive opioid dependence) without addiction due to allostatic opponent neuroadaptations involving reward/antireward and nociceptive/antinociceptive systems. This opioid-induced chronic pain syndrome (OICP) can persist/progress whether LTOT dose is maintained at the same level, increased, decreased or discontinued. Current conceptualization of LTOT as a straightforward long-term analgesic therapy appears incongruous in view of the complex mechanisms of opioid action, LTOT dependence and OICP. LTOT can be more appropriately conceptualized as therapeutic induction and maintenance of an adaptive LTOT dependence for functional improvement irrespective of analgesic benefits. Adaptive LTOT dependence should be ideally used for a limited time to achieve maximum functional recovery and deprescribed while maintaining functional gains. Patients on LTOT should be regularly re-evaluated to identify if maladaptive LTOT dependence with OICP has diminished any functional gains or leads to ineffectiveness. Ineffective LTOT (with maladaptive LTOT dependence) should be modified to make it safer and more effective. An adequately functional life without opioids is the ideal healthy long-term goal for both LTOT initiation and LTOT modification.

Pain relief and associated factors: a cross-sectional observational web-based study in a Quebec cohort of persons living with chronic pain

Objectives

Randomized clinical trials are used to evaluate the efficacy of various pain treatments individually, while a limited number of observational studies have portrayed the overall relief experienced by persons living with chronic pain. This study aimed to describe pain relief in real-world clinical settings and to identify associated factors.

Methods

This exploratory web-based cross-sectional study used data from 1,419 persons recruited in the community. Overall pain relief brought by treatments used by participants was assessed using a 0%-100% scale (10-unit increments).

Results

A total of 18.2% of participants reported minimal pain relief (0%-20%), 60.0% moderate to substantial pain relief (30%-60%), and 21.8% extensive pain relief (70%-100%). Multivariable multinomial regression analysis revealed factors significantly associated with greater pain relief, including reporting a stressful event as circumstances surrounding the onset of pain, living with pain for ≥10 years, milder pain intensity, less catastrophic thinking, use of prescribed pain medications, use of nonpharmacological pain treatments, access to a trusted healthcare professional, higher general health scores, and polypharmacy. Factors associated with lower pain relief included surgery as circumstances surrounding pain onset, use of over-the-counter pain medications, and severe psychological distress.

Discussion

In this community sample of persons living with chronic pain, 8 out of 10 persons reported experiencing at least moderate relief with their treatment. The analysis has enabled us to explore potential modifiable factors as opportunities for improving the well-being of persons living with chronic pain.

Practical approaches for clinicians in chronic pain management: Strategies and solutions

Effective management of chronic pain necessitates multidisciplinary approaches including medical treatment, physical therapy, lifestyle interventions, and behavioral or mental health therapy. Medical providers regularly report high levels of stress and challenge when treating patients with chronic pain, which recur in part due to improper education on contributors to pain and misalignment in patient and provider goals and expectations for treatment. The current paper reviews common challenges and misconceptions in the setting of chronic pain management as well as strategies for effective patient education and goal setting related to these issues. The paper also outlines key aspects of provider burnout, its relevance for medical providers in chronic pain management, and recommendations for burnout prevention in navigating issues of patient education and treatment planning.

A network analysis of pain intensity and pain-related measures of physical, emotional, and social functioning in US military service members with chronic pain

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to apply network analysis methodology to better understand the relationships between pain-related measures among people with chronic pain.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a cross-sectional sample of 4614 active duty service members with chronic pain referred to 1 military interdisciplinary pain management center between 2014 and 2021. Using a combination of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures and other pain-related measures, we applied the "EBICglasso" algorithm to create regularized partial correlation networks that would identify the most influential measures.

RESULTS

Pain interference, depression, and anxiety had the highest strength in these networks. Pain catastrophizing played an important role in the association between pain and other pain-related health measures. Bootstrap analyses showed that the networks were very stable and the edge weights accurately estimated in 2 analyses (with and without pain catastrophizing).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings offer new insights into the relationships between symptoms using network analysis. Important findings highlight the strength of association between pain interference, depression and anxiety, which suggests that if pain is to be treated depression and anxiety must also be addressed. What was of specific importance was the role that pain catastrophizing had in the relationship between pain and other symptoms suggesting that pain catastrophizing is a key symptom on which to focus for treatment of chronic pain.

Emotion-Focused Psychodynamic Interview for People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Childhood Adversity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Childhood adversity and emotional conflicts are associated with the presence and severity of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), yet common treatments for CMP do not address such risk factors. We developed a single session, emotion-focused psychodynamic interview, based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy and Intensive Short-term Psychodynamic Therapy, and we tested the interview's effects on pain-related outcomes and potential psychological mediators in a randomized, controlled trial. Adults (N = 91; ages 21-70, M = 44.64; 87.9% women) reporting CMP and at least 3 adverse childhood experiences completed measures at baseline and 6-week follow-up. Participants were randomized to immediate interview or waitlist control conditions. The 90-minute interview was conducted via videoconference, and the interviewer elicited disclosure of adversities and conflicts, linked these with pain, and encouraged the experience and expression of adaptive emotions. Analyses indicated that conditions did not differ significantly on change in pain severity; however, compared to control, the interview led to a significantly greater reduction in pain interference (P = .016, ηp2 = .05) and a similar trend for anxiety (P = .058, ηp2 = .04). The interview also significantly changed several potential mediators: pain-related anxiety (P = .008, ηp2 = .06), pain controllability (P = .016, ηp2 = .06), and psychological (P < .001, ηp2 = .15) and brain attributions (P = .022, ηp2 = .05) for pain. Participants viewed the interview as very valuable. We conclude that addressing childhood adversities and conflicts in a psychodynamic interview is beneficial for people with CMP. PERSPECTIVE: This study found that, compared to waitlist control, a 90-minute, remotely-administered, emotion-focused, psychodynamic interview improved pain interference, and anxiety among adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain and childhood adversity. Intensive emotional work can be done in a single session to the benefit of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Patient-targeted interventions for opioid deprescribing: An overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Deprescribing (reduction or cessation) of prescribed opioids can be challenging for both patients and healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize and evaluate evidence from systematic reviews examining the effectiveness and outcomes of patient-targeted opioid deprescribing interventions for all types of pain.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted in five databases with results screened against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Primary outcomes were (i) reduction in opioid dose, reported as change in oral Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (oMEDD) and (ii) success of opioid deprescribing, reported as the proportion of the sample for which opioid use declined. Secondary outcomes included pain severity, physical function, quality of life and adverse events. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

FINDINGS

Twelve reviews were eligible for inclusion. Interventions were heterogeneous in nature and included pharmacological (n = 4), physical (n = 3), procedural (n = 3), psychological or behavioural (n = 3) and mixed (n = 5) interventions. Multidisciplinary care programmes appeared to be the most effective intervention for opioid deprescribing; however, the certainty of evidence was low, with significant variability in opioid reduction across interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence is too uncertain to draw firm conclusions about specific populations who may derive the greatest benefit from opioid deprescribing, warranting further investigation.

A Pilot Trial of Stepwise Implementation of Virtual Reality Mindfulness and Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatments for Dysphoria in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Dysphoria is a transdiagnostic symptom that causes considerable suffering. Implementation of established self-care and clinical treatment options, such as mindfulness and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is typically disjointed for conditions involving dysphoria. There is a need for a rapid progression of accessible treatments that can be efficacious across multiple comorbidities. In a pilot stepwise implementation study to assess feasibility and effectiveness, adult participants with dysphoria (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and/or chronic pain) went through a treatment course of VR mindfulness, then accelerated TMS (accel-TMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (left dlPFC), then accel-TMS over the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Participants who did not benefit from one treatment phase progressed to the next until remission or study completion. Twenty-four participants were enrolled with 23 in VR mindfulness (phase 1), 19 in accel-TMS left dlPFC (phase 2A), and 13 in accel-TMS dmPFC (phase 2B). For our primary outcome measure of the short form-36 emotional well-being subscale (paired t-test), no significant change was found in phase 1 (n = 19, p = .226), significant improvement was found in phase 2A (n = 19, p = .038), and no significant change was found in the smaller sample of phase 2B (n = 12, p = .089). Symptom improvement was largely supported by clinician-administered scales, with more significant changes found in accel-TMS left dlPFC and dmPFC. The benefits of VR mindfulness were limited; however, both accel-TMS phases showed a significant impact on secondary measures of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This stepwise protocol shows promise in providing an approach to rapidly improve symptoms of dysphoria in transdiagnostic populations. This trial is registered with NCT05061745.

Baseline Factors Associated with Pain Intensity, Pain Catastrophizing, and Pain Interference in Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment for Youth

Background: More could be known about baseline factors related to desirable Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment (IIPT) outcomes. This study examined how baseline characteristics (age, gender, child pain catastrophizing (PCS-C), pain interference, pain intensity, anxiety, depression, paediatric health-related quality of life (PedsQLTM), and parent catastrophizing (PCS-P)) were associated with discharge and 3-month follow-up scores of PCS-C, pain intensity, and pain interference. Methods: PCS-C, pain intensity, and pain interference T-scores were acquired in 45 IIPT patients aged 12-18 at intake (baseline), discharge, and 3-month follow-up. Using available and imputed data, linear mixed models were developed to explore associations between PCS-C, pain intensity, and pain interference aggregated scores at discharge and follow-up with baseline demographics and a priori selected baseline measures of pain, depression, anxiety, and PCS-C/P. Results: PCS-C and pain interference scores decreased over time compared to baseline. Pain intensity did not change significantly. Baseline PCS-C, pain interference, anxiety, depression, and PedsQLTM were associated with discharge/follow-up PCS-C (available and imputed data) and pain interference scores (available data). Only baseline pain intensity was significantly associated with itself at discharge/follow-up. Conclusions: Participants who completed the IIPT program presented with reduced PCS-C and pain interference over time. Interventions that target pre-treatment anxiety and depression may optimize IIPT outcomes.

Development and Testing of a Communication Intervention to Improve Chronic Pain Management in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

Effective communication skills are essential for optimally managing chronic pain and opioids. This exploratory, sequential mixed methods study tested the effect of a novel framework designed to improve pain-related communication and outcomes.

METHODS

Study 1 developed a novel 5-step framework for helping primary care clinicians discuss chronic pain and opioids with patients. Study 2 pilot tested an intervention for teaching this framework using standardized patient instructors-actors trained to portray patients and provide immediate clinician feedback-deployed during regular clinic hours. Primary care physicians were randomized to receive either the intervention or pain management recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Primary outcomes were pain-related interference at 2 months and clinician use of targeted communication skills (coded from transcripts of audio-recorded visits); secondary outcomes were pain intensity at 2 months, clinician self-efficacy for communicating about chronic pain, patient experience, and clinician-reported visit difficulty.

RESULTS

We enrolled 47 primary care physicians from 2 academic teaching clinics and recorded visits with 48 patients taking opioids for chronic pain who had an appointment scheduled with an enrolled physician. The intervention was not associated with significant changes in primary or secondary outcomes other than clinician self-efficacy, which was significantly greater in the intervention group.

DISCUSSION

This study developed a novel framework and intervention for teaching clinician pain-related communications skills. Although the intervention showed promise, more intensive or multicomponent interventions may be needed to have a significant impact on clinicians' pain-related communication and pain outcomes.

Worst Pain Severity Profiles of Oncology Patients Are Associated With Significant Stress and Multiple Co-Occurring Symptoms

Little is known about the associations between pain, stress, and co-occurring symptoms in oncology patients. Purpose was to identify subgroups of patients with distinct worst pain profiles and evaluate for differences among the subgroups in demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as stress and symptom scores. Oncology outpatients (n = 1305) completed questionnaires prior to their second or third chemotherapy cycle. Worst pain intensity was assessed 6 times over 2 chemotherapy cycles using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. The 371 patients (28.4%) who had ≤1 occurrence of pain over the 6 assessments were classified as the None class. For the remaining 934 patients whose data were entered into the latent profile analysis, 3 distinct worst pain profiles were identified (ie Mild [12.5%], Moderate [28.6%], Severe [30.5%]). Compared to None class, Severe class had fewer years of education and a lower annual income; were less likely to be employed and married; less likely to exercise on a regular basis, had a higher comorbidity burden, and a worse functional status. Compared to None class, Severe class reported higher levels of general, disease-specific, and cumulative life stress and lower levels of resilience, as well as higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. This study is the first to identify distinct worst pain profiles in a large sample of oncology patients receiving chemotherapy and associated risk factors. PERSPECTIVE: Unrelieved pain remains a significant problem for oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. High levels of stress and co-occurring symptoms contribute to a more severe pain profile in these patients.

Prescribing and Administering Opioid Doses Based Solely on Pain Intensity: Update of A Position Statement by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing

The foundation of safe and effective pain management is an individualized, comprehensive pain assessment that includes, but is not limited to, the intensity of pain if the patient is able to report it. An unforeseen consequence of the widespread use of pain intensity rating scales is the practice of prescribing specific doses of opioid analgesics based solely on specific pain intensity ratings. Many factors in addition to pain intensity influence opioid requirements. To date there is no research demonstrating that a specific opioid dose will relieve pain of a specific intensity in all patients or even in the same patient at different times. The official position of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) maintains that the practice of prescribing doses of opioid analgesics based solely on pain intensity should be prohibited because it disregards the relevance of other essential elements of assessment and may contribute to untoward patient outcomes.

The associations between sleep disturbance, psychological dysfunction, pain intensity, and pain interference in children with chronic pain

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to better understand the associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms, and anger), and pain intensity and pain interference, in a sample of children with chronic pain.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Three hundred and forty-two children with chronic pain (8-18 years) completed measures assessing pain intensity, pain interference, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger. Regression analyses examined the direct, interaction (with sex), and mediation effects of sleep quality and psychological dysfunction on pain intensity and interference.

RESULTS

Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with both pain intensity and pain interference. However, measures of psychological dysfunction were associated significantly only with pain interference. Sex did not moderate these associations. The measures of psychological dysfunction mediated the associations between sleep disturbance and pain interference, but not those between sleep disturbance and pain intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed significant cross-sectional associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction and pain outcomes in children with chronic pain. Future research to test for causal associations is warranted.