8.3.3

Question 1

Paracetamol Overview

Answer 1

Paracetamol is a common painkiller that is generally safe, with serious side effects being rare.

Question 2

Effectiveness of Paracetamol

Answer 2

Paracetamol is no better than a placebo for chronic pain and only effective for acute pain in a small number of people.

Question 3

Dangers of Paracetamol Overdose

Answer 3

Exceeding the recommended dose of paracetamol can be extremely dangerous.

Question 4

NSAIDs Overview

Answer 4

NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.

Question 5

Effectiveness of NSAIDs

Answer 5

NSAIDs are effective for reducing fever, inflammation, and headache pain.

Question 6

Side Effects of NSAIDs

Answer 6

A common side effect of NSAIDs is stomach irritation. There is also conflicting research on their safety regarding Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.

Question 7

Opiates Overview

Answer 7

Opiates, such as morphine and codeine, are strong painkillers effective for treating acute pain.

Question 8

Effects of High Doses of Opiates

Answer 8

High doses of opiates can slow breathing and heart rate, posing significant risks.

Question 9

Addiction to Opiates

Answer 9

Opiates are addictive, which makes long-term use problematic.

Question 10

Local Anaesthetics Overview

Answer 10

Local anaesthetics, like novocaine, are injected near affected body areas to stop nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

Question 11

Action Time of Local Anaesthetics

Answer 11

Local anaesthetics act quickly, usually within 5–10 minutes, but their effects wear off after about 30 minutes.

Question 12

Anti-depressants as Painkillers

Answer 12

Anti-depressants may reduce pain by increasing neurotransmitters in the spinal cord to block pain signals, particularly for chronic pain.

Question 13

Effectiveness of Anti-depressants for Pain

Answer 13

Anti-depressants are useful for chronic pain like migraines, back pain, and sciatica, but they do not work immediately and provide partial pain relief.

Question 14

Attention Diversion in Pain Management

Answer 14

Attention diversion uses distraction techniques to reduce pain perception, making it an inexpensive and self-administered strategy.

Question 15

Benefits of Attention Diversion

Answer 15

Attention diversion significantly reduces perceived pain and improves quality of life (Holden, 2013).

Question 16

Limitations of Attention Diversion

Answer 16

Attention diversion requires the patient to fully believe in its effectiveness for it to work.

Question 17

Non-pain (Guided) Imagery for Pain Relief

Answer 17

Non-pain imagery involves imagining a pleasant scene unrelated to pain, helping to reduce moderate pain with the guidance of a therapist.

Question 18

Benefits of Guided Imagery

Answer 18

Guided imagery has no side effects, allows patients control over pain management, and can be used at any time.

Question 19

Limitations of Guided Imagery

Answer 19

Guided imagery may be less useful over long periods, as it is difficult to maintain the visualization, and not everyone can visualize effectively.

Question 20

Cognitive Redefinition for Pain Management

Answer 20

Cognitive redefinition involves providing clear information to help patients think rationally and without fear about pain, challenging irrational beliefs.

Question 21

Benefits of Cognitive Redefinition

Answer 21

Cognitive redefinition has no side effects, and positive self-statements can help reduce pain perception.

Question 22

Limitations of Cognitive Redefinition

Answer 22

Cognitive redefinition is ineffective when patients have rational fears based on past painful experiences.

Question 23

Acupuncture Overview

Answer 23

Acupuncture involves inserting fine metal needles into the skin, often accompanied by mild electrical currents, and is thought to work by gate control theory.

Question 24

Benefits of Acupuncture

Answer 24

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce medication doses and side effects, with research supporting its effectiveness in cancer patients (Hu et al., 2016).

Question 25

Limitations of Acupuncture

Answer 25

Acupuncture may be less appealing for some due to a fear of needles, and for severe pain, it must be combined with conventional treatments.

Question 26

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Overview

Answer 26

TENS involves placing electrodes on the skin near the pain site and passing mild electrical current to reduce pain, often explained by the gate control theory.

Question 27

Effectiveness of TENS

Answer 27

TENS has been shown to be effective during labor (Kaplan et al., 1998) but has short-lived effects for chronic conditions like phantom limb pain (Sarafino, 2006).

Question 28

Psychological Treatments for Pain Overview

Answer 28

Psychological treatments, such as attention diversion and cognitive redefinition, have no side effects and give patients control over pain management.

Question 29

Effectiveness of Psychological vs. Biological Treatments

Answer 29

Biological treatments tend to be more effective for severe pain, but psychological treatments offer no side effects and can be effective for moderate pain.

Question 30

Adherence to Psychological Treatments

Answer 30

Patients are more likely to adhere to psychological treatments when pain is moderate and short-lived since side effects are a common barrier to adherence.

Question 31

Limitations of Biological Treatments

Answer 31

Biological treatments, like analgesics, may have harmful side effects or lead to addiction, making them less ideal for long-term use.

Question 32

Reductionism in Biological Treatments

Answer 32

Biological treatments can be reductionist, focusing only on the biological mechanisms of pain while ignoring psychological and environmental factors.

Question 33

Idiographic vs. Nomothetic in Pain Treatment

Answer 33

Biological treatments often take a nomothetic approach, using generalized methods like paracetamol, while an idiographic approach might be more suited for individuals who experience pain differently.

Question 34

Impact of Cultural Differences on Pain Treatments

Answer 34

Acupuncture presents an alternative to traditional Western pain management, offering effective relief alongside conventional drug therapies, especially for cancer patients (Hu et al., 2016).

Question 35

Limitations of Paracetamol for Chronic Pain

Answer 35

Paracetamol is ineffective for chronic pain, as research shows it is no better than a placebo for many patients.

Question 36

Role of NSAIDs in Inflammation and Pain Relief

Answer 36

NSAIDs are commonly used to treat inflammation, fever, and headaches, but they come with side effects like stomach irritation and a potential increased risk of breast cancer.

Question 37

Side Effects of Opiates

Answer 37

Opiates can slow vital signs like breathing and heart rate, and their addictive properties make them unsuitable for long-term pain management.

Question 38

Local Anaesthetic Benefits and Drawbacks

Answer 38

Local anaesthetics offer fast pain relief but may wear off quickly, requiring combination with other treatments for lasting effect.

Question 39

Effectiveness of Anti-depressants for Chronic Pain

Answer 39

Anti-depressants are especially useful for conditions like migraines and sciatica but require time to take effect and provide partial pain relief.

Question 40

Psychological Treatments for Pain Management

Answer 40

Psychological treatments, such as distraction, imagery, and cognitive redefinition, offer an effective, non-pharmacological alternative for pain management, especially for moderate pain.