Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that has become a treatment option for several indications that are not approved by Health Canada. Commonly, gabapentin is prescribed for neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders. The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin for reducing pre-operative anxiety, post-operative pain and opioid consumption. The initial study examined regimens of pre-operative and post-operative gabapentin given to patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Patients that received gabapentin postoperatively used significantly less morphine at 24 hrs, 36 hrs and 48 hrs (p<0.05). Furthermore these patients had significantly better active-assisted knee flexion on postoperative day (POD) 2, POD 3, with a trend toward better flexion on POD 4. Next, we examined whether: 1) gabapentin administration reduces pain and opioid use after total hip arthroplasty using a multimodal analgesic regimen that included spinal anesthesia; and whether 2) preoperative administration of gabapentin is more effective than postoperative administration. Our results demonstrated that whether a 600 mg dose of gabapentin was given preoperatively or postoperatively, patients’ postoperative morphine consumption or pain scores were not reduced in hospital nor was there a reduction in pain 6 months after hip arthroplasty. The third study found that a single dose of 600 mg of gabapentin was not sufficient to reduce preoperative anxiety in patients prior to hip arthroplasty. In contrast, the final study demonstrated that 1200mg of gabapentin reduced pre-operative anxiety and pain catastrophizing in female patients with moderate to high levels of preoperative anxiety prior to major surgery, but also increased preoperative and early postoperative sedation. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of perioperative gabapentin with respect to preoperative anxiety reduction and decreasing morphine consumption after surgery. Future studies that focus on the optimal dose and duration of perioperative gabapentin, with the aim of improving functional outcomes and decreasing the incidence and severity chronic post-surgical pain are warranted.

abstract: In rehabilitation settings, activity limitation can be a significant barrier to recovery. This study sought to examine the effects of state and trait level benefit finding, positive affect, and catastrophizing on activity limitation among individuals with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of either Osteoarthritis (OA), Fibromyalgia (FM), or a dual diagnosis of OA/FM. Participants (106 OA, 53 FM, and 101 OA/FM) who had no diagnosed autoimmune disorder, a pain rating above 20 on a 0-100 scale, and no involvement in litigation regarding their condition were recruited in the Phoenix metropolitan area for inclusion in the current study. After initial questionnaires were completed, participants were trained to complete daily diaries on a laptop computer and instructed to do so a half an hour before bed each night for 30 days. In each diary, participants rated their average daily pain, benefit finding, positive affect, catastrophizing, and activity limitation. A single item, "I thought about some of the good things that have come from living with my pain" was used to examine the broader construct of benefit finding. It was hypothesized that state and trait level benefit finding would have a direct relation with activity limitation and a partially mediated relationship, through positive affect. Multilevel modeling with SAS PROC MIXED revealed that benefit finding was not directly related to activity limitation. Increases in benefit finding were associated, however, with decreases in activity limitation through a significant mediated relationship with positive affect. Individuals who benefit find had a higher level of positive affect which was associated with decreased activity limitation. A suppression effect involving pain and benefit finding at the trait level was also found. Pain appeared to increase the predictive validity of the relation of benefit finding to activity limitation. These findings have important implications for rehabilitation psychologists and should embolden clinicians to encourage patients to increase positive affect by employing active approach-oriented coping strategies like benefit finding to reduce activity limitation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Psychology 2012

abstract: The present study examined the association of pain intensity and goal progress in a community sample of 132 adults with chronic pain who participated in a 21 day diary study. Multilevel modeling was employed to investigate the effect of morning pain intensity on evening goal progress as mediated by pain's interference with afternoon goal pursuit. Moderation effects of pain acceptance and pain catastrophizing on the associations between pain and interference with both work and lifestyle goal pursuit were also tested. The results showed that the relationship between morning pain and pain's interference with work goal pursuit in the afternoon was significantly moderated by a pain acceptance. In addition, it was found that the mediated effect differed across levels of pain acceptance; that is: (1) there was a significant mediation effect when pain acceptance was at its mean and one standard deviation below the mean; but (2) there was no mediation effect when pain acceptance was one standard deviation above the mean. It appears that high pain acceptance significantly attenuates the power of nociception in disrupting one's work goal pursuit. However, in the lifestyle goal model, none of the moderators were significant nor was there a significant association between pain interference with goal pursuit and goal progress. Only morning pain intensity significantly predicted afternoon interference with lifestyle goal pursuit. Further interpretation of the present findings and potential explanations of those inconsistencies are elaborated on discussion. Limitations and the clinical implication of the current study were considered, along with suggestions for future studies. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2014

Background: Intra-articular corticosteroid injections (IACI) are a commonly used treatment for painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). Response to treatment varies the reason for which is unclear. Further there are no data concerning the impact of accuracy of injection and psychological factors including illness perceptions, pain catastrophizing and depression on outcome following IACI.Objectives: i) to undertake a systematic review looking at predictors of response to IACI in patients with symptomatic knee OA and, ii) to determine the role of psychological factors and accuracy of injection in predicting response to IACI.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using electronic databases for randomised trials and observational studies looking at predictors of response to IACI in knee and hip OA. An observational study of 141 consenting patients (105 primary OA and 36 secondary OA in the context of well controlled rheumatoid arthritis) receiving routine IACI as part of clinical care for knee OA was conducted including baseline assessment and outcome assessments at 3 and 9 weeks. Response was defined as at least 40% reduction of pain from baseline, using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Assessment included ultrasound (US) for features of synovial inflammation), radiographs, and assessment of psychological factors including the revised illness perception questionnaire (IPQR). Accuracy of injection was assessed using US. Characteristics of responders and non-responders to IACI at 3 and 9 weeks were determined using univariate statistics and significant factors entered into logistic regression models. Results: The systematic review found no consistent evidence for any disease or non-disease related predictor of response and no systematic exploration of the effects of psychological factors or accuracy of injection on treatment response. In the observational study, 83 (53%) of 141 subjects were responders to IACI at 3 weeks and 56 (44%) at 9 weeks. In univariate analysis, responders to treatment had higher scores for the IPQR domain treatment control and lower scores for IPQR consequences, depression and pain catastrophizing at both 3 and 9 weeks. Physical and patient related factors, including accuracy of injection and US features, were not associated with outcome, with the exceptions of higher baseline pain and previous experience of injection being associated with non-response at 9 weeks. In multiple regression, treatment control was the only independent predictor of response at 3 weeks. At 9 weeks, treatment control, consequences and depression were independent predictors of treatment outcome. Conclusion: In this observational study illness perceptions and depression predicted the outcome of IACI at 3 and 9 weeks. By contrast, physical factors including accuracy of injection did not influence outcome. Further work is needed to replicate these findings and elucidate mechanisms for these effects.

Class of 2013 Abstract / Specific Aims: To assess influence of PCS and FPQ-III on pain tolerance as well as SNPs TRPA1(rs11988795), COMT (rs4646312, rs6269) and FAAH(rs 932816, rs4141964, rs2295633). Methods: A Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-III) were completed by a total of 89 healthy adults. A genetic analysis from cheek swabs was performed for single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) within genes: TRPA1, COMT, and FAAH. A cold-pressor test involving the non-dominant hand inserted in circulating water kept at 1-3 degrees Celsius was used and the duration of time subjects were able to leave their hand in the water (pain tolerance) was measured as the primary outcome. Linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of pain tolerance. Main Results: The subjects were 58% female, the majority were Caucasian (51%) with 26% Asian, 14% Hispanic and 9% other. The mean pain tolerance was 121 ± 66 seconds and regression analysis showed female sex (p=0.001), Asian race (p=0.001), PCS score (<0.001) and FPQ-III score (p=0.014) were associated with decreased pain tolerance while the SNPs were not.      Conclusion: Psychological factors and patient demographics are associated with pain tolerance but the single nucleotide polymorphisms evaluated were not. Future pain studies should utilize a psychological assessment to adjust for this as a confounder.

No description available.

As a leading cause of disability that often leads to death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be characterized as both a chronic illness and a life-threatening one. As a result, the experience of individuals with COPD can include psychological concerns that are associated with both rehabilitation and palliative care. At the same time, the often-uncertain trajectory of COPD obscures a clear transition from rehabilitation to palliative care. It is not surprising, therefore, that treatments aimed at addressing patients’ rehabilitative and palliative needs largely proceed independently of each other. This dissertation contains two studies conducted with patients participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD (N = 242). Separately, each study stems from a research tradition grounded in either the rehabilitative or palliative approach to treatment. Together, the studies highlight an opportunity for a model of more integrated care. Study 1 is derived from the rehabilitation literature and focuses on the issue of “catastrophizing” about breathlessness. Catastrophizing is characterized by a magnification of a symptom’s threat value, rumination about its perceived negative impact, and a sense of helplessness in addressing it. In some medical conditions with a primary symptom, such as chronic pain, catastrophizing demonstrates a strong relationship with the development of disability. Study 1 examines whether this relationship is found in the context of breathlessness. The study also reports the initial validation of the Breathlessness Catastrophizing Scale (BCS) as a means of assessing this phenomenon. Study 2 has its conceptual basis in the palliative care literature and highlights patients’ existential concerns around loss of dignity. Loss of dignity is a central construct in recent health care debates, because it is a primary reason underlying the requests of terminally ill individuals to seek medically hastened deaths (i.e., euthanasia or assisted suicide). Until now, however, loss of dignity has only been examined among patients with cancer. Study 2 examines whether loss of dignity is as prevalent among those with advanced COPD, and whether it improves with treatment. In Study 1 the BCS was found to be a reliable measure of breathlessness catastrophizing, with good convergent validity and sensitivity to change. Interestingly, it appears that breathlessness catastrophizing need not be a barrier to functional improvement in COPD. In Study 2, a “fractured” sense of dignity was found among 13% of patients with advanced COPD, suggesting that it is at least as prevalent as among those receiving palliative cancer care. It was also evident that loss of dignity is amenable to change with appropriate rehabilitation. This finding is important for societal debates regarding the provision of medically hastened deaths, which are often described as offering “death with dignity”. Together these studies demonstrate that in an interdisciplinary environment, such as the pulmonary rehabilitation program, not only is collaboration possible, but the distinct rehabilitative and palliative needs of patients can be met.

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a common and disabling condition, accounting for substantial healthcare and societal costs. Previous studies have demonstrated that certain cognitive factors are related to levels of adjustment (levels of disability, pain and depression) in chronic pain conditions. However, this association has not been adequately explored in patients with CNP. The aim of study one was to determine the relationship between specific cognitive factors and levels of adjustment in participants with CNP. Furthermore, study two explored whether the relationship between the cognitive factors and levels of adjustment differed between those patients with idiopathic CNP and those with Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder (CWAD). Finally, study three compared the efficacy of a physiotherapy led intervention, specifically designed to modify cognitive factors to a conventional physiotherapy intervention.Study one: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. Greater catastrophizing and lower functional self-efficacy beliefs were associated with greater levels of pain and disability. Additionally, lower functional self-efficacy beliefs were also associated with greater levels of depression. Study two: Data were dichotomised into two groups: those with CWAD and those with idiopathic CNP. T-tests were performed to compare differences in the cognitive scores and the same regression analyses as study one were performed for each sub-group. No significant differences existed between the two groups in terms of levels of pain, disability, depression or the cognitive factors. In both groups greater catastrophizing and lower functional self-efficacy beliefs were related to levels of disability. Likewise, lower self-efficacy beliefs were related to levels of depression in those participants with idiopathic CNP and those with CWAD. However, amongst those with idiopathic CNP, greater levels of catastrophizing and lower levels of pain vigilance and awareness were related to greater pain intensity. In contrast, amongst those with CWAD, none of the cognitive measures were significantly related to levels of pain intensity.Study three: Participants were randomly allocated to either a progressive neck exercise programme or an intervention which specifically targeted the modification of cognitive factors. T-tests revealed that treatment targeting cognitive factors resulted in greater improvements in pain and pain-related fear. Moreover, Χ2 tests revealed that a greater proportion of patients made clinically meaningful reductions in pain and disability in the group targeting cognitive factors. This thesis highlights that cognitive factors play an important role in determining levels of adjustment in patients with CNP. Furthermore, treatments designed to specifically target these factors result in superior clinical outcomes when compared to conventional physiotherapy interventions.

No description available.

Lower educational attainment has been linked to worse chronic pain outcomes, but the reasons for this relationship are unclear. This study analyzed the relationship between level of education and pain outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal pain, and potential psychosocial mechanisms to explain this relationship. We hypothesized that patients with lower educational attainment would report greater pain intensity and interference, and that pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression would mediate the relationship between educational attainment and pain. A total of 843 participants (63% female, 78% White, Mage=55.13), diagnosed with a musculoskeletal pain condition [knee osteoarthritis (29%), back pain (57%), and fibromyalgia (14%)], completed questionnaires including demographics, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS). Pearson correlations and bootstrapped mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among education, psychosocial, and pain variables. Education was inversely correlated with pain intensity and interference, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression (p < .05). Pain catastrophizing significantly mediated the relationship between education and pain intensity (95%CI [-.05, -.01]), and catastrophizing and depression mediated the effects of education on pain interference (95% CI [-.08, -.01]; 95%CI [-.06, -.01]). Anxiety did not mediate either relationship. These findings indicate that greater pain catastrophizing, and in part depression, partly drive the relationship between lower educational attainment and worse pain outcomes. This work importantly aims to reduce pain disparities and provides direction for psychosocial treatment, suggesting that pain catastrophizing may be a particularly critical target in patients with lower education level. / 2026-02-23T00:00:00Z