Relaxation Training for Chronic Pain Patients Using Emg Feedback: An Analysis of Process and Outcome Effects

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-272
Author(s):  
N. D. Spence

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the role of EMG-based relaxation training for a diverse group of chronic pain patients by examining in detail both process and outcome changes. Eighteen pain clinic patients were each given 10 sessions of relaxation training using frontalis feedback. The results of the study do not support the use of relaxation training as a standard procedure for chronic pain patients. Psychophysiological assessment carried out before and after training indicated some reduction in EMG levels, with less change in GSR and HR activity. No significant alteration occurred in mean pain and medication measures after training, although there was a trend for sedative/hypnotic usage to be smaller. Most important, individual differences in outcome were not consistently related to process variables monitored during training. This lack of association supports the view that physiological change is not necessary for clinical benefit after relaxation training.

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee ◽  
Beom ◽  
Choi ◽  
Lee ◽  
Lee

Background and Objectives: The attentional bias and information processing model explained that individuals who interpret pain stimuli as threatening may increase their attention toward pain-related information. Previous eye tracking studies found pain attentional bias among individuals with chronic pain; however, those studies investigated this phenomenon by using only one stimulus modality. Therefore, the present study investigated attentional engagement to pain-related information and the role of pain catastrophizing on pain attentional engagement to pain-related stimuli among chronic pain patients by utilizing both linguistic and visual stimulus. Materials and Methods: Forty chronic pain patients were recruited from the rehabilitation center, the back pain clinic, and the rheumatology department of Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Patients observed pictures of faces and words displaying pain, presented simultaneously with neutral expressions, while their eye movements were measured using the eye tracking system. A t-test and ANOVA were conducted to compare stimulus pairs for the total gaze duration. Results revealed that chronic pain patients demonstrated attentional preference toward pain words but not for pain faces. An ANOVA with bias scores was conducted to investigate the role of pain catastrophizing on attentional patterns. Results indicated that chronic pain patients with high pain catastrophizing scores gazed significantly longer at pain- and anger-related words than neutral words compared to those with low pain catastrophizing scores. The same patterns were not observed for the facial expression stimulus pairs. Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed attentional preference toward pain-related words and the significant role of pain catastrophizing on pain attentional engagement to pain-related words. However, different patterns were observed between linguistic and visual stimuli. Clinical implications related to use in pain treatment and future research suggestions are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 973
Author(s):  
Shane Kaski ◽  
Patrick Marshalek ◽  
Jeremy Herschler ◽  
Sijin Wen ◽  
Wanhong Zheng

Patients with chronic pain managed with opioid medications are at high risk for opioid overuse or misuse. West Virginia University (WVU) established a High-Risk Pain Clinic to use sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone (bup/nal) plus a multimodal approach to help chronic pain patients with history of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or aberrant drug-related behavior. The objective of this study was to report overall retention rates and indicators of efficacy in pain control from approximately six years of High-Risk Pain Clinic data. A retrospective chart review was conducted for a total of 78 patients who enrolled in the High-Risk Pain Clinic between 2014 and 2020. Data gathered include psychiatric diagnoses, prescribed medications, pain score, buprenorphine/naloxone dosing, time in clinic, and reason for dismissal. A linear mixed effects model was used to assess the pain score from the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and daily bup/nal dose across time. The overall retention of the High-Risk Pain Clinic was 41%. The mean pain score demonstrated a significant downward trend across treatment time (p < 0.001), while the opposite trend was seen with buprenorphine dose (p < 0.001). With the benefit of six years of observation, this study supports buprenorphine/naloxone as a safe and efficacious component of comprehensive chronic pain treatment in patients with SUD or high-risk of opioid overuse or misuse.


2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 578-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Moreira Mattos Júnior ◽  
Rafael Villanova Mattos ◽  
Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira ◽  
Silvia Regina Dowgan Tesseroli de Siqueira ◽  
Jose Tadeu Tesseroli de Siqueira

The objective was to investigate the effect of nitrous/oxygen in chronic pain. Seventy-seven chronic pain patients referred to dental treatment with conscious sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen had their records included in this research. Data were collected regarding the location and intensity of pain by the visual analogue scale before and after the treatment. Statistical analysis was performed comparing pre- and post-treatment findings. It was observed a remarkable decrease in the prevalence of pain in this sample (only 18 patients still had chronic pain, p < 0.001) and in its intensity (p < 0.001). Patients that needed fewer sessions received higher proportions of nitrous oxide/oxygen. Nitrous oxide may be a tool to be used in the treatment of chronic pain, and future prospective studies are necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms and the effect of nitrous oxide/oxygen in patients according to the pain diagnosis and other characteristics.


2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 272-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Kaufmann ◽  
Christoph Eisner ◽  
Peter Richter ◽  
Volker Huge ◽  
Antje Beyer ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Mailis-Gagnon ◽  
Balaji Yegneswaran ◽  
SF Lakha ◽  
Keith Nicholson ◽  
Amanda J Steiman ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Pain clinics tend to see more complex chronic pain patients than primary care settings, but the types of patients seen may differ among practices.OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present observational study was to describe the pain and demographic characteristics of patients attending a university-affiliated tertiary care pain clinic in Toronto, Ontario.METHODS: Data were collected on 1242 consecutive new patients seen over a three-year period at the Comprehensive Pain Program in central Toronto.RESULTS: Musculoskeletal problems affecting large joints and the spine were the predominant cause of pain (more prevalent in women), followed by neuropathic disorders (more prevalent in men) in patients with recognizable physical pathology. The most affected age group was in the 35- to 49-year age range, with a mean pain duration of 7.8 years before the consultation. While 77% of the Comprehensive Pain Program patients had relevant and detectable physical pathology for pain complaints, three-quarters of the overall study population also had significant associated psychological or psychiatric comorbidity. Women, in general, attended the pain clinic in greater numbers and had less apparent physical pathology than men. Finally, less than one in five patients was employed at the time of referral.CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of the data in relation to other pain clinics is discussed, as well as waiting lists and other barriers faced by chronic pain patients, pain practitioners and pain facilities in Ontario and Canada.


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