Pre-sleep cognitive arousal exacerbates sleep disturbance in chronic pain: an exploratory daily diary and actigraphy study

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie J. Bean ◽  
Juliette Horne ◽  
Arier C. Lee ◽  
Malcolm H. Johnson

Abstract Objectives Insomnia is commonly comorbid with chronic pain, and typically leads to worse outcomes. Two factors that could contribute to a cycle of pain and sleeplessness are pre-sleep cognitive arousal (repetitive thought processes) and low mood. This study aimed to examine how pain, sleep disturbance, mood, and pre-sleep cognitive arousal inter-relate, to determine whether low mood or pre-sleep cognitive arousal contribute to a vicious cycle of pain and insomnia. Methods Forty seven chronic pain patients completed twice daily diary measures and actigraphy for one week. Analyses investigated the temporal and directional relationships between pain intensity, sleep quality, time awake after sleep onset, anhedonic and dysphoric mood, and pre-sleep cognitive arousal. Fluctuations in predictor variables were used to predict outcome variables the following morning using mixed-effects modelling. Results For people with chronic pain, an evening with greater pre-sleep cognitive arousal (relative to normal) led to a night of poorer sleep (measured objectively and subjectively), lower mood in the morning, and a greater misperception of sleep (underestimating sleep). A night of poorer sleep quality led to greater pain the following morning. Fluctuations in pain intensity and depression did not have a significant influence on subsequent sleep. Conclusions For people with chronic pain, cognitive arousal may be a key variable exacerbating insomnia, which in turn heightens pain. Future studies could target cognitive arousal to assess effects on sleep and pain outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Bjarke Vaegter ◽  
Mette Terp Høybye ◽  
Frederik Hjorth Bergen ◽  
Christine E. Parsons

Abstract Objectives Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with chronic pain. However, the majority of studies to date examining sleep disturbances in patients with chronic pain have been population-based cross-sectional studies. The aims of this study were to 1) examine the frequency of sleep disturbances in patients referred to two interdisciplinary chronic pain clinics in Denmark, 2) explore associations between sleep disturbances and pain intensity, disability and quality of life at baseline and follow-up, and 3) explore whether changes in sleep quality mediated the relationships between pain outcomes at baseline and pain outcomes at follow-up. Methods We carried out a longitudinal observational study, examining patients enrolled in two chronic pain clinics assessed at baseline (n=2,531) and post-treatment follow-up (n=657). Patients reported on their sleep disturbances using the sleep quality subscale of the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ), their pain intensity using 0–10 numerical rating scales, their pain-related disability using the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and quality of life using the EuroQol-VAS scale. The average time between baseline and follow-up was 207 days (SD=154). Results At baseline, the majority of patients reported frequent sleep disturbances. We found a significant association at baseline between self-reported sleep disturbances and pain intensity, pain-related disability, and quality of life, where greater sleep disturbance was associated with poorer outcomes. At follow-up, patients reported significant improvements across all pain and sleep outcomes. In two mediation models, we showed that changes in sleep disturbances from baseline to follow-up were significantly associated with (i) pain intensity at follow-up, and (ii) pain disability at follow-up. However, baseline pain intensity and disability scores were not associated with changes in sleep disturbances and, we did not find evidence for significant mediation of either pain outcome by changes in sleep disturbances. Conclusions Self-reported sleep disturbances were associated with pain outcomes at baseline and follow-up, with greater sleep disturbances associated with poorer pain outcomes. Changes in sleep quality did not mediate the relationships between baseline and follow-up scores for pain intensity and disability. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence confirming an association between sleep and chronic pain experience, particularly suggestive of a sleep to pain link. Our data following patients after interdisciplinary treatment suggests that improved sleep is a marker for a better outcome after treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Probst ◽  
Jank ◽  
Dreyer ◽  
Seel ◽  
Wagner ◽  
...  

Studies have shown that pain acceptance is associated with a better pain outcome. The current study explored whether changes in pain acceptance in the very early treatment phase of an interdisciplinary cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-based treatment program for chronic pain predict pain outcomes. A total of 69 patients with chronic, non-malignant pain (at least 6 months) were treated in a day-clinic for four-weeks. Pain acceptance was measured with the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), pain outcomes included pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS) as well as affective and sensory pain perception (Pain Perception Scale, SES-A and SES-S). Regression analyses controlling for the pre-treatment values of the pain outcomes, age, and gender were performed. Early changes in pain acceptance predicted pain intensity at post-treatment measured with the NRS (B = −0.04 (SE = 0.02); T = −2.28; p = 0.026), affective pain perception at post-treatment assessed with the SES-A (B = −0.26 (SE = 0.10); T = −2.79; p = 0.007), and sensory pain perception at post-treatment measured with the SES-S (B = -0.19 (SE = 0.08); T = -2.44; p = 0.017) . Yet, a binary logistic regression analysis revealed that early changes in pain acceptance did not predict clinically relevant pre-post changes in pain intensity (at least 2 points on the NRS). Early changes in pain acceptance were associated with pain outcomes, however, the impact was beneath the threshold defined as clinically relevant.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi S. Anamkath ◽  
Sarah A. Palyo ◽  
Sara C. Jacobs ◽  
Alain Lartigue ◽  
Kathryn Schopmeyer ◽  
...  

Objective. Chronic pain conditions are prominent among Veterans. To leverage the biopsychosocial model of pain and comprehensively serve Veterans with chronic pain, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System has implemented the interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP). This study aims to (1) understand initial changes in treatment outcomes following IPRP, (2) investigate relationships between psychological factors and pain outcomes, and (3) explore whether changes in psychological factors predict changes in pain outcomes. Methods. A retrospective study evaluated relationships between clinical pain outcomes (pain intensity, pain disability, and opioid use) and psychological factors (depressive symptoms, catastrophizing, and “acceptable” level of pain) and changes in these outcomes following treatment. Multiple regression analysis explored whether changes in psychological variables significantly predicted changes in pain disability. Results. Catastrophizing and depressive symptoms were positively related to pain disability, while “acceptable” level of pain was idiosyncratically related to pain intensity. Pain disability and psychological variables showed significant changes in their expected directions. Regression analysis indicated that only changes in depressive symptoms significantly predicted changes in pain disability. Conclusion. Our results are consistent with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management of chronic pain in Veterans. Further investigation of interdisciplinary treatment programs in Veterans is warranted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pavlova ◽  
Jennifer Ference ◽  
Megan Hancock ◽  
Melanie Noel

Background. Pediatric chronic pain often emerges in adolescence and cooccurs with internalizing mental health issues and sleep impairments. Emerging evidence suggests that sleep problems may precede the onset of chronic pain as well as anxiety and depression. Studies conducted in pediatric populations with pain-related chronic illnesses suggest that internalizing mental health symptoms may mediate the sleep-pain relationship; however, this has not been examined in youth with primary pain disorders.Objective. To examine whether anxiety and depressive symptoms mediated relationships between sleep quality and pain outcomes among youth with chronic pain.Methods. Participants included 147 youth (66.7% female) aged 8–18 years who were referred to a tertiary-level chronic pain program. At intake, the youth completed psychometrically sound measures of sleep quality, pain intensity, pain interference, and anxiety and depressive symptoms.Results. As hypothesized, poor sleep quality was associated with increased pain intensity and pain interference, and anxiety and depressive symptoms mediated these sleep-pain relationships.Discussion. For youth with chronic pain, poor sleep quality may worsen pain through alterations in mood and anxiety; however, prospective research using objective measures is needed. Future research should examine whether targeting sleep and internalizing mental health symptoms in treatments improve pain outcomes in these youth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 569-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen J. Burgess ◽  
John W. Burns ◽  
Asokumar Buvanendran ◽  
Rajnish Gupta ◽  
Melissa Chont ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 216495611876955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T Davis ◽  
Gary Badger ◽  
Kristina Valentine ◽  
Alexander Cavert ◽  
Remy R Coeytaux

Introduction In response to the opioid crisis, the 2016 Vermont legislature commissioned a study to assess acupuncture for patients with chronic pain in the Vermont Medicaid population. Objective To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of acupuncture provided by licensed acupuncturists for Vermont Medicaid patients with chronic pain. Methods A total of 156 Medicaid patients with chronic pain were offered up to 12 acupuncture treatments within a 60-day period at the offices of 28 Vermont licensed acupuncturists. PROMIS® questionnaires were administered prior to and at the end of the treatment period to assess changes in pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and social isolation. Questionnaires also captured patients’ overall impressions of treatments as well as self-reported changes in medication use and work function. Results One hundred eleven women (71%) and 45 men (29%) with a wide range of pain complaints received a mean of 8.2 treatments during the intervention period. Measurements captured prior to and at the end of the treatment period showed significant improvements in group mean pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and social isolation as assessed by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures (paired t tests, P < .01). Fifty-seven percent of patients using analgesic (nonopioid) medication reported reductions in use. Thirty-two percent of patients using opioid medication reported reductions in use of opioid medication following the intervention. Seventy-four percent of employed patients reported improved capacity to work. Ninety-six percent of patients said that they would recommend acupuncture to others with chronic pain, and 91% reported qualitative improvements, including physical (31%), functional/behavioral (29%), and psycho-emotional (24%) improvements. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that acupuncture treatment for chronic pain is feasible and well received by patients in the Vermont Medicaid population. Receiving care from Licensed Acupuncturists was associated with significant improvements in physical, functional, psycho-emotional, and occupational outcomes compared with before receiving acupuncture treatments.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon L. Naismith ◽  
Naomi L. Rogers ◽  
Simon J. G. Lewis ◽  
Keri Diamond ◽  
Zoë Terpening ◽  
...  

Naismith SL, Rogers NL, Lewis SJG, Diamond K, Terpening Z, Norrie L, Hickie IB. Sleep disturbance in mild cognitive impairment: differential effects of current and remitted depression.Objective:Although patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) commonly report sleep disturbance, the extent to which depressive symptoms contribute to this relationship is unclear. This study sought to delineate the contribution of current and remitted major depression (MD) to sleep disturbance in MCI.Methods:Seventy-seven patients meeting criteria for MCI (mean age = 66.6 ± 8.8 years) were grouped according to those withnohistory of depression (MCI,n= 33), those meeting criteria forcurrentMD [mild cognitive impairment and meeting criteria for current major depression (DEP-C),n= 14] and those withremittedMD [mild cognitive impairment and remitted major depression (DEP-R),n= 30]. Additionally, 17 healthy controls (CON) participated. Sleep was patient-rated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and included assessment of sleep quality, duration, efficiency, disturbances, medications, sleep onset latency and daytime dysfunction. Depression severity was clinician-rated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.Results:Overall sleep disturbance was significantly greater in the DEP-C and DEP-R groups in comparison to the CON and MCI groups (p< 0.001). Only 12% of CON reported sleep disturbance, compared to 30% of MCI, 63% of DEP-R and 86% of DEP-C. Sub-scale analysis showed that the sleep disturbance in depressive groups was most evident across the domains of sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.Conclusion:Sleep disturbance in MCI is strongly associated with a current or past diagnosis of MD. The finding that sleep complaints are still prominent in those with remitted depression, suggests that ‘trait' markers exist that may reflect underlying neurobiological changes within the sleep–wake system.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1466
Author(s):  
Hyeon Jin Kim ◽  
Jiyeon Kim ◽  
Seungyeon Lee ◽  
Bosil Kim ◽  
Eunjin Kwon ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the effects of alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate (ACH; Lactium®) on the subjective and objective sleep profiles of a community-based sample of Koreans with poor sleep quality. We performed a double-blind, randomized crossover trial with 48 participants (49.0 ± 1.7 years old, 65% female) who exhibited a mild to moderate degree of sleep disturbance. Either ACH or placebo was administered for the initial four weeks, and the counterpart was administered in precisely the same manner after a four-week washout period. Sleep disturbance scales, daytime functioning, and psychiatric aspects showed a similar tendency to improve during both ACH and placebo phases without significant group differences. Overall perceived sleep profiles in sleep diaries were significantly improved during the ACH phase, represented by increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency (SE), as well as decreased sleep latency and wake after sleep onset (WASO). Interestingly, actigraphy demonstrated significantly increased SE after continuous use of ACH for four weeks, clearly more improved when compared to two weeks of use. The polysomnography measures showed a similar tendency without statistically significant group differences. Our findings suggest that refined ACH was well tolerated and could improve sleep quality, with possible cumulative beneficial effects with long-term administration.


2021 ◽  
pp. 204946372110546
Author(s):  
Rachel Vaughan ◽  
Helen F Galley ◽  
Saravana Kanakarajan

Objective Chronic pain can impact on sleep, but the extent and nature of sleep problems in patients with chronic pain are incompletely clear. Several validated tools are available for sleep assessment but they each capture different aspects. We aimed to describe the extent of sleep issues in patients with chronic non-malignant pain using three different validated sleep assessment tools and to determine the relationship of sleep issues with pain severity recorded using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), a commonly used self-assessment tool in pain clinics. The BPI has a single question on the interference of pain on sleep and we also compared this with the validated sleep tools. Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Setting Pain management clinic at a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Subjects Adult patients (with chronic non-malignant pain of at least 3 months’ duration) attending clinic during a 2-month period. Methods Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Pain and Sleep Questionnaire-3 (PSQ-3) and the Verran Snyder-Halpern (VSH) sleep scale, plus the BPI. Duration and type of pain, current medications and demographic data were recorded. Results We recruited 51 patients and 82% had poor sleep quality as shown by PSQIscores above five. PSQI ( p = 0.0002), PSQ-3 ( p = 0.0032), VSH sleep efficiency ( p = 0.012), sleep disturbance ( p = 0.0014) and waking after sleep onset ( p = 0.0005) scores were associated with worse BPI pain scores. BPI sleep interference scores concurred broadly with the validated sleep tools. Median [range] sleep duration was 5.5 [3.0–10.0] hours and was also related to pain score ( p = 0.0032). Conclusion Chronic pain has a marked impact on sleep regardless of the assessment tool used. The sleep interference question in the BPI could be used routinely for initial identification of sleep problems in patients with chronic pain.


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