BACKGROUND: It is well known that patients with dementia complain less about pain and receive fewer analgesics than other patients. The question arises of whether disorders associated with dementia change the processing of pain. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with dementia and 40 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as 40 healthy control subjects were investigated for their subjective (category scale), facial (FACS) and motor (R-III reflex) pain responses to mechanical and electrical stimuli. RESULTS: Patients with dementia did not rate the intensity of the stimuli differently; however, they were less frequently capable of providing ratings. At equal levels of stimulus intensity, demented patients showed stronger facial responses. The R-III reflex thresholds were lowered in demented patients. MCI patients appeared only slightly changed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the processing of acute noxious stimuli is intensified in patients with dementia. Against the background of a reduced prescription of analgesics, an under-treatment of pain in patients with dementia might be the consequence.
BACKGROUND: It is well known that patients with dementia complain less about pain and receive fewer analgesics than other patients. The question arises of whether disorders associated with dementia change the processing of pain. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with dementia and 40 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as 40 healthy control subjects were investigated for their subjective (category scale), facial (FACS) and motor (R-III reflex) pain responses to mechanical and electrical stimuli. RESULTS:Patients with dementia did not rate the intensity of the stimuli differently; however, they were less frequently capable of providing ratings. At equal levels of stimulus intensity, demented patients showed stronger facial responses. The R-III reflex thresholds were lowered in demented patients. MCI patients appeared only slightly changed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the processing of acute noxious stimuli is intensified in patients with dementia. Against the background of a reduced prescription of analgesics, an under-treatment of pain in patients with dementia might be the consequence.
Authors: Jamie L Rhudy; Amy E Williams; Klanci M McCabe; Mary Anh Thù V Nguyen; Philip Rambo Journal: Psychophysiology Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: H D Basler; R Bloem; H R Casser; H U Gerbershagen; N Griessinger; U Hankemeier; S Hesselbarth; S Lautenbacher; T Nikolaus; W Richter; C Schröter; L Weiss Journal: Schmerz Date: 2001-06 Impact factor: 1.107
Authors: Leonie J Cole; Michael J Farrell; Eugene P Duff; J Bruce Barber; Gary F Egan; Stephen J Gibson Journal: Brain Date: 2006-09-02 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: G C Román; T K Tatemichi; T Erkinjuntti; J L Cummings; J C Masdeu; J H Garcia; L Amaducci; J M Orgogozo; A Brun; A Hofman Journal: Neurology Date: 1993-02 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: J Osterbrink; M Hufnagel; P Kutschar; B Mitterlehner; C Krüger; Z Bauer; W Aschauer; M Weichbold; E Sirsch; C Drebenstedt; K M Perrar; A Ewers Journal: Schmerz Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 1.107
Authors: Georg Pinter; Rudolf Likar; Martina Anditsch; Michael Bach; Franz Böhmer; Martin Friedrich; Thomas Frühwald; Markus Gosch; Monika Gugerell; Christian Lampl; Josef Marksteiner; Peter Pietschmann; Katharina Pils; Michael Schirmer Journal: Wien Med Wochenschr Date: 2010-05
Authors: Waltraud Stromer; Ingrid Pabinger; Cihan Ay; Richard Crevenna; Josef Donnerer; Clemens Feistritzer; Sophie Hemberger; Rudolf Likar; Florian Sevelda; Katharina Thom; Barbara Wagner; Werner Streif Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 1.704