Research Guideline to Expand the Evidence Base Supporting Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Noncancer Pain

Perry G. Fine, MD

Department of Anesthesiology
Pain Research Center
University of Utah School of Medicine
Salt Lake City, UT

The American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine have recently published guidelines to help clinicians appropriately position and prescribe opioids as a treatment option for chronic noncancer pain. The recommendations serve as an important framework for comprehensive assessment, risk stratification, outcome monitoring, and tailoring of opioid-based regimens. The guidelines recognize, however, that increased opioid prescribing has occurred in recent years despite the dearth of published evidence supporting long-term effectiveness and safety, as well as growing concerns over abuse, misuse and diversion of these medications. To help address inadequacies in the evidence base, the Milbank Memorial Fund and Mayday Foundation provided financial support for an interdisciplinary expert panel charged with evaluating the existing data and devising a strategic framework for future research in this area.

References

Chapman CR, Lipschitz DL, Angst MS, et al. Opioid pharmacotherapy for chronic noncancer pain in the United States: A research guideline for developing an evidence-base. J Pain. 2010 Apr 27. [Epub ahead of print].
Chou R, Fanciullo GJ, Fine PG, et al. Clinical guidelines for the use of chronic opioid therapy in chronic noncancer pain. J Pain. 2009;10(2):113-130.
Chou R, Ballantyne JC, Fanciullo GJ, Fine PG, Miaskowski C. Research gaps on use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain: findings from a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine clinical practice guideline. J Pain. 2009;10(2):147-159.

Would you like to comment? , or in if you are already a member.

Chronic opioid therapy and preventive services in rural primary care: an Oregon rural practice-based research network study.

Buckley DI, Calvert JF, Lapidus JA, et al.
Ann Fam Med. 2010;8(3):237-44.
PURPOSE:...

A different kind of co-morbidity: Understanding posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain

Beck JG, Clapp JD.
Psychol Trauma. 2011 Jun;3(2):101-108.
Many traumatic events leave...

The impact of enrollment in a specialized interdisciplinary neuropathic pain clinic

Garven A, Brady S, Wood S, Hatfield M, Bestard J, Korngut L, Toth C.
Pain Res Manag. 2011...

Association between urine drug test results and treatment outcome in high-risk chronic pain patients on opioids

Barth KS, Becker WC, Wiedemer NL, Mavandadi S, Oslin DW, Meghani SH, Gallagher RM.
J Addict...

The role of core strengthening for chronic low back pain.

Akuthota V, Standaert CJ, Chimes GP.
PM R. 2011 Jul;3(7):664-70.