Citations

• The Effects of Forest Therapy on Coping with Chronic Widespread Pain: Physiological and Psychological Differences between Participants in a Forest Therapy Program and a Control Group
  Jin-Woo Han, Han Choi, Yo-Han Jeon, Chong-Hyeon Yoon, Jong-Min Woo, Won Kim
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2016; 13(3): 255.     CrossRef
• Frequency of Counterstrain Tender Points in Osteopathic Medical Students
  Karen T. Snider, John C. Glover, Paul R. Rennie, Heather P. Ferrill, William F. Morris, Jane C. Johnson
  Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.2013; 113(9): 690.     CrossRef
• Neural and muscular dysfunction in fibromyalgia
  Naglaa A. Gadallah, Mohamed R. Awad, Klaus R. von Wild, Hanan E. El-Hefnawy, Nadia H. El-Arousy, Nadia G. El-Hefnawy, Tarek A. Abdou, Ehab A. El Shafie, Abeer K. El Zohiery
  Japanese Journal of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Science.2013; 4: 30.     CrossRef

Background
In spite of its high prevalence and social impact, pain in the elderly has not been managed appropriately. Understanding the multidimensional aspect of pain is crucial in its effective management. Patients with chronic pain are known to be more profoundly affected by psychological and social factors. We, therefore, classified chronic pain patients and especially focused on the relationship between pain and stress. Methods: The subjects were 149 persons older than 60 years attending a certain geriatric college. A survey was peformed employing the Korean version of Geriatric Pain Measure (GPM-K), the Korean Version of Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-K), the Elderly Life Stress Inventory (ELSI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea Version (GDSSF-K), and the Revised Chalder's Fatigue Scale (Fatigue). Results: A total of 103 people, who completed both the questionnaires on pain and stress were enrolled. There was a significant correlation between GPM-K and ELSI (ELSI: r=.38, P＜ 0.01). In chronic pain patients, not only ELSI, but also PSS was correlated with GPM-K (ELSI: r=.37, P＜0.01, PSS: r=.25, P=0.04). Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between GPM-K and ELSI in the elderly. In chronic pain patients, it was more closely associated with GPM-K. We, therefore, believe that stress management can be useful in the management of pain, especially in the management of chronic pain patients. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29: 418-423)

Background
: Post-Herpetic Neuralgia(PHN) is the most common and serious complication of herpes zoster(H-Z). Especially in the elderly, intractable chronic pain is caused by PHN and it affects the quality of life severely. The study examined the predictive factors of PHN for its prevention and treatment.

Methods : 691 cases of patients with herpes zoster who visited department of dermatology were studied of Kwang Ju Christian Hospital during the five years from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. Retrospective chart review was used to compare occurrence of PHN according to age, sex, residential area of patients, inpatients of outpatients status, nerve dermatome, interval of treatment, methods of treatment, associated conditions and duration of PHN. The authors compared the incidence of patients with PHN and patients with H-Z according to above variables. For statistical analysis, we used chi-square and t-test through SPSS/PC+(P<0.05).

Results : The incidence of PHN was 22.9%(158/691) and increased with age. The incidence of patients under 60 years of age was 16.5%, more than 60 was 30.7%(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance concerning sex, residential area of patients, methods of treatment, associated conditions in the incidence of PHN compared to patients with H-Z. The significant difference in the incidence of PHN was shown between inpatients and outpatients status(20.5%, 27.3% respectively)(P<0.05). Anatomical site of PHN of the highest incidence was the opthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve(27.1%), followed by cervical(26.0%), thoracic(24.4%) and sacral(22.2%) in order of sequence. Associated conditions or diseases of PHN were observed in 80 patients(24.7%) including hypertension(39.5%), tuberculosis(39.3%), malignancy(34.5%), COPD(33.3%), chronic hepatitis(22.7%), DM(15.4%). The interval between the onset of H-Z and the initiation of treatment showed that significant difference in the incidence of PHN was on the fourth day with less than and more than 4 days showing 18.5% : 25.1% respectively(P<0.05).

Conclusion : The important factors affecting the incidence of PHN were interval between the onset of H-Z and the initiation of treatment, age and inpatients or outpatients status. The methods of treatment(acyclovir or steroid), sex, residential area of patients, associated conditions and nerve distribution were not significant factors.