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Cognitive function in patients with chronic pain treated with opioids: characteristics and associated factors
Author(s) -
KURITA G. P.,
MATTOS PIMENTA C. A.,
BRAGA P. E.,
FRICH L.,
JØRGENSEN M. M.,
NIELSEN P. R.,
HØJSTED J.,
SJØGREN P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2012.02760.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cognition , chronic pain , depression (economics) , neuropsychology , anxiety , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , opioid , physical therapy , psychiatry , receptor , economics , macroeconomics
Background The paucity of studies regarding cognitive function in patients with chronic pain, and growing evidence regarding the cognitive effects of pain and opioids on cognitive function prompted us to assess cognition via neuropsychological measurement in patients with chronic non‐cancer pain treated with opioids. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, 49 patients were assessed by C ontinuous R eaction T ime, F inger T apping, D igit S pan, T rail M aking T est‐ B and M ini‐mental S tate E xamination tests. Linear regressions were applied. Results Patients scored poorly in the T rail M aking T est‐ B (mean = 107.6 s, SD = 61.0, cut‐off = 91 s); and adequately on all other tests. Several associations among independent variables and cognitive tests were observed. In the multiple regression analyses, the variables associated with statistically significant poor cognitive performance were female sex, higher age, lower annual income, lower schooling, anxiety, depression, tiredness, lower opioid dose, and more than 5 h of sleep the night before assessment ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Patients with chronic pain may have cognitive dysfunction related to some reversible factors, which can be optimized by therapeutic interventions.