Medical Cannabis in Patients with Chronic Pain: Effect on Pain Relief, Pain Disability, and Psychological aspects. A Prospective Non randomized Single Arm Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing interest in the medical use of cannabis, particularly in the treatment of chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES

The aim is to evaluate the effects of cannabis use and the associated benefits reported by patients with various chronic pain diagnoses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 338 patients with different chro- nic pain conditions were treated with a Cannabis Flos 19% decoction for 12 months, in addition to their pharmacological therapy. Baseline levels for pain medications, pain intensity, pain disability, anxiety and depression were recorded at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Pain intensity records a statistically significant reduction from Baseline to 12 months follow up (X² 61.375; P<0,001); the im- provements from Baseline to 12 months follow up are also recorded in pain disability (X² 39.423; P<0,001) and in anxiety and depression symptoms (X²30.362; P<0,001; X²27.786; P<0,001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggest that Cannabis therapy, as an adjun- ct a traditional analgesic therapy, can be an efficacious tool to make more effective the management of chronic pain and its consequences on functional and psychological dimension. Further randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm our conclusions.

Spectroscopic identification of the chemical interplay between defects and dopants in Al-doped ZnO

Contributions to the spectroscopic response of defects and dopants in Al-doped ZnO films are determined combining X-ray spectroscopies and DFT.

[Dialysis and quality of life: identifying and managing critical aspects]

Living with a chronic disease is for the patient a ''disease experience'' that also affects the psychosocial sphere and has a negative impact on perceived quality of life. To estimate the effect of dialysis on the perceived quality of life and to identify by means of a specific questionnaire the aspects that are compromised most. From our results it emerged that the examined patients had a sufficiently good total perception of quality of life, even though about 30% of the patients reported critical aspects related to daily life and, in some age groups, also related to dialysis method. This study confirms the importance of developing educational and supportive predialysis programs in order to identify and reduce the critical aspects.