[Problems of pain measurement and pain therapy in the elderly].
Due to complex physical and psychological changes in aging, pain measurement and therapeutic treatment of older and geriatric patients present a special challenge. Nevertheless, even for this category of patients, good treatment results are achievable if age-related particulars and problems are consistently heeded and accounted for. That includes adverse sensory and cognitive effects as much as multimorbidity and the polypharmacy that is frequently related to it. An essential prerequisite for adequate pain therapeutic care in elderly patients is consistent pain measurement. While numerical and verbal scales have also proven their usefulness for patients in advanced age who are not cognitively impaired, instruments must be applied for older people with communicative and/or cognitive restrictions with which the observed behavior of those involved can be surveyed in a multidimensional way.
Pinter
Georg
G
Haus der Geriatrie, Landeskrankenhaus Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
Likar
Rudolf
R
Anditsch
Martina
M
Bach
Michael
M
Böhmer
Franz
F
Friedrich
Martin
M
Frühwald
Thomas
T
Gosch
Markus
M
Gugerell
Monika
M
Lampl
Christian
C
Marksteiner
Josef
J
Pietschmann
Peter
P
Pils
Katharina
K
Schirmer
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role
D000700:Analgesics