Current
research of the Pain Research Group (PRG) includes
descriptive studies, clinical
trials, laboratory studies, and neuroimaging
studies on pain, fatigue, and other symptoms experienced by patients
with cancer. The goals of these studies range from determining patients'
preferences for symptom control to understanding the mechanisms of pain
and analgesia in the brain.
The goal of the PRG's
descriptive studies is to determine the prevalence, severity, and treatment
of symptoms in cancer patients. Many of these studies are international
in scope, with study sites in China, Japan, the Philippines, and Latin
America. The PRG surveys patients about their pain, fatigue, quality of
life, and their preferences regarding symptom control. PRG also surveys
health care professionals about their attitudes and practices related
to symptom management at various stages of disease progression, including
advanced disease. Other studies include a retrospective study of physicians'
pain management practices for patients at the end of life, and a study
of the effects of patients' pain on the family members who care for them.
PRG's clinical trials
test the effectiveness of behavioral, educational, and medical interventions
on pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and other symptoms. A collaborative
multi-site study with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group examines
the effects of an analgesic protocol on physicians' management of cancer
pain. Other multi-site studies measure the effects of culturally-specific
pain relief education in minority outpatients, including African Americans,
Chinese Americans, and Hispanics. Other PRG clinical trials test the use
of relaxation, distraction, or imagery in combination with opioids for
the treatment of cancer pain. The PRG is also exploring ways that recent
technological advances, such as Interactive Voice Response Systems and
octaphonic sound, can be employed to improve the comfort and function
of patients with cancer.
The goal of our laboratory research is to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Current studies focus on exploring the analgesic action of morphine and various behavioral interventions designed to decrease pain. Specifically, these studies examine the effects of morphine when combined with distraction or positive mood on induced pain in healthy volunteers.
The goal of our neuroimaging
research is to determine the representation of pain, fatigue, and other
symptoms in the brain. Studies with healthy volunteers involve using functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the mechanisms of pain and
analgesia, including pharmacological and behavioral interventions. In
neuroimaging studies with cancer patients, fMRI is used to explore the
negative effects of anemia on the brain and the effectiveness of celiac
plexus block for the treatment of pain.