European Journal of Pain最新文献

{"title":"Repeated Tetrahydrocannabinol Injections Induce Tolerance but Do Not Disrupt Ongoing Behaviour Upon Withdrawal in Male and Female Rats With Inflammatory Pain.","authors":"Michael M Morgan, Christa M Hickey","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70279","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many people use cannabis to self-medicate for pain. Little is known about the impact of pain on tolerance and spontaneous withdrawal to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. Our previous research with the opioid morphine suggests persistent pain will increase the magnitude and duration of THC withdrawal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were individually housed in a cage with a running wheel to provide a continuous and objective measure of well-being. All rats were injected with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the right hindpaw to induce inflammatory pain. Beginning 1 day later, rats received twice daily THC or vehicle injections for 7 days followed by assessment of tolerance and spontaneous withdrawal.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Administration of CFA decreased wheel running. Twice daily injections of THC (3 mg/kg/injection) caused a further reduction in running in male and female rats. Tolerance to the THC-induced decrease in running was more pronounced in male compared to female rats. There was no evidence of spontaneous withdrawal to THC despite continuous assessment for 6 days. Likewise, withdrawal had no effect on body weight.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The lack of spontaneous withdrawal in rats with hindpaw inflammation is consistent with our recent study showing a lack of spontaneous withdrawal to THC in pain free rats, but opposite to our opioid research showing enhancement of spontaneous withdrawal to morphine in rats with hindpaw inflammation. In sum, persistent inflammatory pain does not appear to alter the effects of repeated THC injections in male or female rats.</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>The use of THC as a treatment for pain is limited by side effects and tolerance but not by dependence associated withdrawal symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70279"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pulsed Epidural Radiofrequency Versus Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients With Failed Back Syndrome: The EPIPUL Study.","authors":"Agustín Mendiola de la Osa, Sandra Helena Martínez Rodríguez, Rodrigo Díez Tafur, Juan Pérez Cajaraville, Jorge Calle Ochoa, Manuel Herrero Trujillano, Joaquín Insausti Valdivia, Francisco Javier Redondo Calvo","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70269","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70269","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Persistent post-lumbar pain syndrome (PSPS) type II is a frequent condition in Pain Units, with limited treatment options such as epidural corticosteroids or epidurolysis. Epidural pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) using a catheter has been reported as more effective than transforaminal PRF. This study evaluates the efficacy of epidural PRF with or without corticosteroids in patients with PSPS type II.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A randomized, controlled, multicentre trial included 131 patients. Participants were allocated to either a control group receiving epidural corticosteroids alone or an experimental group receiving epidural PRF plus corticosteroids. Outcomes were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), DN4 questionnaire, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 131 patients, 72 were assigned to PRF + steroids and 59 to control. The PRF + steroids group showed significantly greater improvement in VAS (p ≤ 0.002 across follow-ups), ODI (p ≤ 0.004), DN4 (p ≤ 0.015), and PGI-I (p ≤ 0.004) compared with control. Number needed to treat for a 2-3 point reduction in VAS ranged between 2.7 and 2.9. No major complications were observed, and adverse effects were minor and transient.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Epidural PRF combined with corticosteroids provides superior pain relief, functional improvement, and patient satisfaction compared with corticosteroids alone in PSPS type II. This technique appears safe, with no significant complications, and represents a promising minimally invasive option for managing persistent post-surgical lumbar radiculopathy.</p><p><strong>Significance statement: </strong>This randomized controlled trial provides the first multicentre evidence that epidural pulsed radiofrequency combined with corticosteroids is more effective than corticosteroids alone for persistent spinal pain syndrome type II. The study shows sustained improvements in pain, disability, and patient-reported outcomes with a favourable safety profile, supporting epidural PRF as a valuable therapeutic option for complex post-surgical lumbar pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioural Characterisation and Pharmacological Validation of an Incisional Wound-Related Pain Model.","authors":"Catherine R Healy, Maria C Redmond, Mary Hopkins, Georgina Gethin, Abhay Pandit, David P Finn","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70284","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Wound-related pain represents a significant unmet clinical need. To advance its understanding and treatment, there is a need for a validated preclinical model for the study of wound-related pain in both sexes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 1.2 cm incision was created on the hairy skin of the dorsum of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats posterior to L4. In the first study, mechanical withdrawal thresholds at the dorsum and hind paws were assessed for 34 days post-incision in both male and female rats to investigate the temporal profile of mechanical hypersensitivity following a dorsum incision. The second study investigated the effects of morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) on mechanical hypersensitivity in the dorsum and hind paws on post-incision Day 8 in male Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Robust mechanical hypersensitivity was evident in the dorsum up to 14 days post-incision in males and 7 days post-incision in females, indicating sex differences in the temporal profile of mechanical hypersensitivity following incision. Secondary mechanical hypersensitivity was present in the hind paws of both sexes following a dorsum incision. Morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) significantly attenuated dorsum and hind paw mechanical hypersensitivity on post-incision Day 8.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results suggest that the dorsum incision model is suitable for modelling incisional wound-related pain and exhibits sex differences in pain-related behaviour post-incision.</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>This paper extends the characterisation of an animal model of incisional wound-related pain, in both sexes. It represents an advancement in the ability to model this condition pre-clinically and will facilitate investigation of underlying mechanisms and novel therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustained Attention Instability as a Cognitive Biomarker in Chronic Spine Pain: A 90-second Visual Attention Test.","authors":"Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Kenneth Blum, Morgan Lorio, Colin Hanna, Alexander P L Lewandrowski, Thomas Lundquist, Rossano Kepler Alvim Fiorelli, Guilherme J Schmidt, Emmanouil Liodakis, Mark Gold, Juliana J Schmidt, Eelco Van Duinkerken, Carolina Abramovicz, Andreza P Maia, Sergio Luis Schmidt","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic spine pain is linked to self-reported cognitive complaints. However, objective markers are lacking. The 90-s Continuous Visual Attention Test (CVAT) quantifies key attention subdomains: reaction time (RT, alertness), RT variability (VRT, sustained attention), omission errors (focused attention) and commission errors (impulsivity).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to identify which specific attentional subdomains, measured by the CVAT, are impaired in adults with chronic spine pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective case-control study included 84 adults with chronic lumbar/cervical pain (≥ 3 months) and 118 healthy controls. A MANCOVA tested group differences on CVAT variables, controlling for age and sex, followed by Bonferroni-corrected ANCOVAs. To isolate cognitive variability from general processing speed, the coefficient of variability (VRT/RT) was also analysed. Logistic regression assessed the predictive power of CVAT indices for pain status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The MANCOVA showed a significant group effect (Pillai's Trace = 0.46, F(4,195) = 41.43, p < 0.001). Patients exhibited impairments in all measures p < 0.001 (η² = 0.093-0.44). The VRT deficit persisted when using VRT/RT. Logistic regression identified VRT as the strongest predictor of chronic spine pain (χ²(1) = 147.53, p < 0.001), correctly classifying 86.6% of participants. This finding remained when using VRT/RT (χ²(1) = 130.55, p < 0.001; 82.7% accuracy).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Patients with chronic spine pain demonstrate attentional deficits, with sustained attention instability (VRT and VRT/RT) as the most robust marker. The CVAT detects this impairment, offering a practical tool for clinical assessment to inform treatment and monitor cognitive function in pain management.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>III (prospective case-control).</p><p><strong>Significance statement: </strong>A brief, 90-s computerized attention test provides an objective, clinic-ready screen for sustained-attention instability in spine pain patients. Identifying cognitive vulnerability at the point of care can inform perioperative counselling, driving/work-safety guidance and rehabilitation planning, and it may help monitor treatment response alongside pain metrics, offering a noninvasive, nonpharmacologic complement to standard pain assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70289"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13147231/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proximity Labelling Reveals the Compartmental Proteome of Murine Sensory Neurons.","authors":"Julia R Sondermann, Allison M Barry, Feng Xian, Thomas Haberl, David Gomez-Varela, Fritz Benseler, Dietmar Schreiner, Nils Brose, Noa Lipstein, Manuela Schmidt","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70277","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70277","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Understanding the molecular architecture of peripheral sensory neurons is critical as we pursue novel drug targets against pain and neuropathy. Sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) show extensive compartmentalization; thus, understanding each compartment-from the peripheral to central terminals-is key to this effort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To systematically profile this spatial complexity, we generated a TurboID^fl/fl transgenic mouse line (ROSA26^{em1(TurboID)Bros}), enabling targeted proximity labelling and deep proteomic profiling of DRG neuron compartments via Tg(Advillin-Cre)⁺.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our data reveal distinct proteomic signatures across neuronal compartments that reflect specialized neuronal functions. We provide proteomic insights into previously inaccessible nerve terminals both in the periphery (innervating the skin) and in the spinal cord. Further, using a DRG explant model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, we uncover novel and discrete proteome changes, highlighting neuronal vulnerability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Together, our findings provide a unique proteome atlas of the sensory neuron proteome across anatomical domains and demonstrate the utility of proximity labelling proteomics for detecting compartment-specific molecular alterations in a disease model.</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>This study highlights the potential of TurboID-based proteomics to uncover cell type-specific differences in the peripheral nervous system, serving as a valuable resource for mechanistic studies of sensory neuron function and pathology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70277"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Commentary: \"Pain Catastrophizing: Do We Still Need Our Security Blanket?\"","authors":"Geert Crombez, Maya Braun, Julie Dendauw, Annick L De Paepe","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70286","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147812687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Virtual Reality Technology Design and Its Applications in Preventing and/or Managing Paediatric Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Romane Michaux, Aurélie Wagener, Nancy Durieux, Céline Stassart","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objective: </strong>Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a novel non-pharmacological intervention tool, offering immersive environments for pain management and prevention. Despite growing literature on its efficacy, key design elements for effective VR interventions for paediatric chronic pain (CP) remain unclear. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to explore VR design strategies for managing and/or preventing paediatric CP.</p><p><strong>Databases and data treatment: </strong>Following the JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five major databases: PsycINFO, Medline, Central, Scopus, and Embase, complemented by Google Scholar. Eligible studies were systematically screened and analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty studies were included. Several objectives were highlighted. Identified objectives ranged from simple distraction without additional therapeutic goals to more structured skill-development aims, such as fostering relaxation skills or supporting the transfer of pain management strategies to daily life. Between these two extremes, VR was often used to distract the user while simultaneously pursuing another specific therapeutic objective, such as inducing relaxation or promoting movement. VR was also applied for mirror therapy. To support these objectives, a wide variety of virtual environments (VEs) were implemented, some integrating biofeedback. These VEs were grouped into four main categories: relaxing environments, gamified movement-based environments, simulation of everyday settings, and avatar-based interactive environments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings informed an adaptation of an existing holistic framework for paediatric VR-based pain interventions, originally developed in the context of acute pain, to paediatric CP. This adapted model integrates intervention objectives, moderators, and implementation barriers to guide the selection and development of VR-based interventions in this context.</p><p><strong>Significance statement: </strong>This scoping review examines the range of VR design strategies and their applications in paediatric CP. An adapted holistic framework is proposed to guide the selection and development of VR interventions for this population. Given the rapid growth and emerging nature of this research field, a structured classification of VR designs is essential to support interpretation, replication, and comparison across studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70282"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147812709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mindfulness Interventions for Adolescents With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Cynthia Harbeck-Weber, Sammy T Murad, Neha Ramachandran, Leslie A Sim, Karen Weiss, Dani Gerberi, M Hassan Murad, Samer Saadi","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objective: </strong>Despite growing interest in mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents with chronic pain, the data have not been systematically summarized. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to estimate the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on pain intensity, catastrophizing, acceptance and interference; functioning, quality of life, and anxiety and depression in youth with chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Databases and data treatment: </strong>Electronic databases CINAHL, CCTR, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched to January 2, 2025. Studies were included if they were in English, included > 5 patients, were not part of intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment and included pre-post outcomes from mindfulness-based interventions delivered to adolescents with chronic pain. Risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen studies including a total of 323 adolescents were identified. There were significant within group improvements in pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, pain interference, functioning, depression, anxiety, and quality of life, with results maintained or increased at follow-up effect sizes at follow-up were moderate to large (e.g., quality of life SMD = 0.33; pain intensity SMD = -0.73; pain interference SMD = -1.44). Heterogeneity of results was generally moderate to high. Compared to standardized long interventions, variable length interventions showed greater pre-post changes in functioning, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing. The certainty in the estimates was generally low, due to risk of bias and pre-post designs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although adolescents with chronic pain report improvements after participating in mindfulness-based interventions, rigorous RCTs are needed to substantiate these results.</p><p><strong>Significance statement: </strong>Chronic pain in youth is common and difficult to treat. Previous interventions have largely been based on cognitive-behavioural therapy and not successful for all. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis in paediatric chronic pain to focus on mindfulness-based interventions, highlighting an alternative and potentially effective intervention approach. This study informs clinicians about an effective intervention approach and assists researchers in identifying gaps for further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70274"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Personal Unfairness Recollections and Trait Empathy on Empathic Responses Toward Others' Pain.","authors":"Zhou Yang, Xin Kang, Bateer, Todd Jackson","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Situational stressors influence pain empathy levels, but little is known about how interactions of such stressors interact with baseline trait empathy (TE) to influence empathic processing. Toward elucidating this issue, we investigated the effects of a cognitively loading stressor-personal unfairness recollections-on pain empathy levels in high versus low TE groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Undergraduate participants (N = 121) were divided into high versus low TE groups using median Interpersonal Reactivity Index scores. Participants were randomly assigned to recall personal experiences of unfairness (unfairness prime) or boring daily routines (boredom prime) and then evaluate injury images (Task 1) and facial expression images (Task 2), rating pain/joy intensity to index cognitive empathy and unpleasantness/pleasantness to index affective empathy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cognitive empathy levels remained stable across priming conditions. However, affective empathy was modulated by both priming conditions and TE levels. Within the boredom priming control condition, high TE group members reported significantly more unpleasantness toward injury images and painful facial expressions, and more pleasantness toward joyful facial expressions than low TE group members did. Paradoxically, unfairness priming resulted in reduced affective empathy toward painful and joyful facial expressions in the high TE group and enhanced affective empathy to injury images in the low TE group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This experiment indicated cognitive empathy ratings remain stable while affective empathy ratings are susceptible to interactions between trait empathy levels and negatively-valenced recollections. Specifically, personal unfairness experiences may diminish effects of baseline empathic sensitivity on pain empathy among high-TE people and magnify affective empathy among those with low TE.</p><p><strong>Significance statement: </strong>This experiment demonstrates effects of personal experiences of perceived unfairness (versus boredom) differentially bias affective pain empathy based on individuals' baseline trait empathy levels. By revealing the unique impact of affectively valenced stressors on affective empathy, main findings underscore potential mechanisms by which healthcare providers' occupational stressors may compromise objective pain assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Learning to Unveil: Tackling Implicit Bias in Pain Recognition Through Education.","authors":"Arianna Bagnis, Ilenia Ceccarelli, Franco Stella, Katia Mattarozzi","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70281","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Independent studies demonstrate that racial biases and inferences from facial appearance impact healthcare decisions, especially in pain recognition and treatment, with such biases already detectable among medical students. To address this issue, the present research evaluated the effectiveness of a multifaceted evidence-based educational intervention aimed at mitigating implicit biases by increasing students' knowledge and awareness of these factors in clinical settings and fostering strategies for equitable pain management.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 100 medical students were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. Both groups completed a pain recognition task twice, evaluating perceived pain intensity and the likelihood of recommending treatment. Between sessions, the experimental group took part in a brief educational intervention combining theoretical input on implicit biases in pain assessment, evidence from empirical studies, and applied reflection on clinical scenarios, whereas the control group received the same lesson after completing the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings reveal that repeated exposure to the pain recognition task influenced responses in both groups, suggesting a task-related learning effect. The educational intervention significantly improved response times, pain intensity ratings, and treatment recommendations across stimuli categories, irrespective of race or facial trustworthiness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This suggests that the intervention heightened students' sensitivity to pain-related cues and encouraged a re-evaluation of clinical judgements. These results underscore the value of targeted educational initiatives in addressing disparities in pain recognition and treatment driven by facial cues, providing evidence that even brief interventions may contribute to mitigating implicit biases and support more equitable healthcare decision-making.</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a brief, evidence-based educational intervention in reducing implicit racial biases in pain recognition among medical students. By enhancing students' sensitivity to pain-related cues, the intervention holds promise for improving equitable healthcare practices and reducing bias-driven disparities in pain management.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"30 5","pages":"e70281"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13109812/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}