Repeated pain assessment in Alzheimer's disease.
In previous studies, patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) have indicated that they experienced less pain intensity and affect from their painful conditions than nondemented elderly persons. However, in those studies, pain assessment occurred only once. Therefore, it may be possible that pain which had occurred, for example, a day earlier, could have been forgotten. Therefore, in the present study, AD patients' pain was assessed daily, i.e. once a day and even three times a day, during a longer period. The results parallel those of earlier studies, i.e. compared to elderly persons without dementia, AD patients appear to perceive less pain intensity and pain affect. These findings support the hypothesis that AD is characterized by an alteration in pain experience.
Scherder
E
E
Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1109, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EJA.Scherder@psy.vu.nl
Bouma
A
A
Slaets
J
J
Ooms
M
M
Ribbe
M
M
Blok
A
A
Sergeant
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000700:Analgesics