Relationship Between Current Depressive Symptoms and Telomere Length in a Large, Multiethnic Sample.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has suggested that depressive symptoms may be associated with telomere length; however, findings have been mixed, and few studies have sought to generalize the results beyond samples of white individuals. The present study, conducted from August 2013 through August 2015, sought to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and leukocyte telomere length in a large (N = 2,710), multiethnic sample (African American, white, Hispanic) and to determine if this relationship differed across ethnic/racial groups. Analyses were based on data taken from the Dallas Heart Study, a recent epidemiologic-style, population-based study of adults from Dallas County, Texas. METHODS: Depressive symptoms were measured using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, and leukocyte telomere length was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. Analyses of the relationship between depressive symptoms and telomere length were conducted using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: Among the whole sample, there was no significant relationship between depressive symptoms and telomere length in either a basic (ß = -0.025, P = .190) or an adjusted (ß = -0.015, P = .443) model. However, among non-Hispanic white participants, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with telomere length in both basic (ß = -0.083, P = .014) and adjusted (ß = -0.066, P = .049) models. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ethnic/racial identification may be a factor in the relationship between depressive symptoms and telomere length and could impact the generalizability of previous research.

Predictors of Reversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few studies have examined predictors of reversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognition. We sought to identify baseline predictors of reversion, using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set, by comparing MCI individuals who reverted to normal cognition to those who progressed to dementia. METHODS: Participants (n = 1,208) meeting MCI criteria were evaluated at the baseline visit and 3 subsequent annual visits. Clusters of baseline predictors of MCI reversion included demographic/genetic data, global functioning, neuropsychological functioning, medical health/dementia risk score, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stepwise logistic regression models identified predictors of MCI reversion per cluster, which were then entered into a final comprehensive model to find overall predictor(s). RESULTS: At 2 years, 175 (14%) reverted to normal cognition, 612 (51%) remained MCI, and 421 (35%) progressed to dementia, with sustained diagnoses at 3 years. Significant variables associated with MCI reversion were younger age, being unmarried, absence of APOE ε4 allele, lower CDR-SOB score, and higher memory/language test scores. CONCLUSION: A relatively sizable proportion of MCI individuals reverted to normal cognition, which is associated with multiple factors previously noted. Findings may enhance MCI prognostic accuracy and increase precision of early intervention studies of dementia.

A DEMONSTRATION OF A PRESURGICAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE EVALUATION FOR CATEGORIZING PATIENTS FOR IMPLANTABLE THERAPIES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of a presurgical behavioral medicine evaluation (PBME) screening algorithm with patients undergoing evaluation for implantable pain management devices. METHODS: Sixty patients were evaluated for prognostic recommendations regarding outcomes from surgery for spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pumps. Diagnostic interviews, review of medical charts, and psychosocial and functional measures were used in the initial evaluation. RESULTS: Patients were classified into one of four prognostic groups, from low to increasing risks: Green, Yellow-I, Yellow-II, and Red. The Green group showed the most positive biopsychosocial profile, while the Red groups showed the worst profiles. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that the PBME algorithm may be an effective method for categorizing patients into prognostic groups. Psychological and adverse clinical features appear to have the most power in the classification of such patients.

Biopsychosocial profiles of different pain diagnostic groups.

UNLABELLED: Different pain diagnoses have been examined separately in various research studies. The major aim of the present investigation was to add to the current understanding of the various groups of patients who make up the chronic pain population. This study expanded the research literature by including 7 different predominantly chronic pain syndromes (fibromyalgia, upper extremity pain, cervical pain, thoracic pain, lumbar pain, lower extremity pain, and headache). These 7 groups were examined by using a broad array of variables focusing on demographic, self-reported psychosocial, and physical/functional factors. There were 661 patients included from an interdisciplinary treatment program who had been given 1 physical pain diagnosis. Results revealed differences among the 7 groups with regard to self-reported physical/functional limitations. The headache group had less physical/functional impairment than most of the other groups. On the other hand, the lumbar, fibromyalgia, and lower extremity groups had the most physical/functional problems. On self-reported psychosocial measures, the fibromyalgia group had the most difficulties, and the lower extremity and lumbar groups had fewer problems in this area. Overall, though, besides the fibromyalgia group, there was a lack of differences among the other groups on the psychosocial measures. PERSPECTIVE: Biopsychosocial profiles were examined for different pain diagnostic groups. Seven different pain groups were compared. It was discovered that, in general, the lumbar, fibromyalgia, and lower extremity groups reported more physical/functional limitations, and the fibromyalgia and headache groups reported more psychosocial difficulties.

Development of a self-report screening instrument for assessing potential opioid medication misuse in chronic pain patients.

This study constituted the first step in the psychometric development of a self-report screening instrument for risk of opioid medication misuse among chronic pain patients. A 26-item instrument, the Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ), was constructed based on suspected behavioral correlates of opioid medication misuse, which heretofore have received limited empirical investigation. The PMQ was administered to 184 patients at an interdisciplinary pain treatment center. Reliability coefficients for the PMQ were found to be of moderate but acceptable strength. Construct and concurrent validity were examined through correlation of PMQ scores to measures of substance abuse, physical and psychological functioning, and physicians' risk assessments. To explore high and low cutoff points for misuse risk, subgroups were formed according to the upper and lower thirds of PMQ scores and compared on validity measures. Higher PMQ scores were associated with history of substance abuse, higher levels of psychosocial distress, and poorer functioning. Future psychometric analyses will consider predictive validity and examine shortened versions of the instrument.

A prospective one-year outcome study of interdisciplinary chronic pain management: compromising its efficacy by managed care policies.

UNLABELLED: Although interdisciplinary pain management programs are both therapeutically effective as well as cost-effective, they are currently being underutilized because of managed care policies. We used this prospective comparison trial, with 1-yr follow-up of chronic pain patients, to demonstrate the short- and long-term efficacy of an interdisciplinary pain management program, and evaluate the impact of managed care's physical therapy "carve out" practices on these treatment outcomes. Consecutive chronic pain patients (n = 201) were evaluated, some of whom had their physical therapy "carved out" from this integrated program. Results revealed that successful completion of interdisciplinary pain management was therapeutically effective. Most importantly, physical therapy "carved out" practices had a negative impact on both the short-term and 1-yr follow-up outcome measures. Thus, interdisciplinary pain management is effective in treating the major health problem of chronic pain. However, insurance carrier policies of contracting treatment "carve outs" significantly compromise the efficacy of this evidence-based, best standard of medical care treatment. This raises important medico-legal and ethical issues. IMPLICATIONS: Interdisciplinary pain management is effective and cost-effective in treating the major health problem of chronic pain. The present study demonstrated its efficacy using a prospective, 1-yr posttreatment evaluation methodology. Moreover, physical therapy "carve out" practices by insurance carriers had a negative impact on the outcomes, raising important medico-legal and ethical issues.

A preliminary study of multidimensional pain inventory profile differences in predicting treatment outcome in a heterogeneous cohort of patients with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate whether the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) is effective for predicting response to interdisciplinary treatment in a heterogeneous group of patients with chronic pain. Changes in patients' profiles to a predominantly adaptive coping status after treatment also were assessed. DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted of patients with an array of pain conditions. A standard evaluation battery, including measures of self-reported pain and disability, psychosocial functioning, helpfulness of the program, and medication use, was used for all patients before and after treatment. The MPI status of patients was evaluated and differential response to treatment was assessed. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients with chronic pain were evaluated before and immediately after participation in an interdisciplinary pain treatment program. This heterogeneous pain-condition cohort was also differentiated on the basis of the MPI to evaluate potential differential response to treatment. RESULTS: Results revealed significant improvement among these patients with chronic pain when a comprehensive interdisciplinary pain-management program was administered. This improvement was seen across the variety of outcomes evaluated, including narcotic medication use. Most important, the MPI subgroup classification did not significantly predict the degree of positive treatment outcome; all subgroups improved. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were major differences in psychosocial functioning before treatment, the MPI was not found to significantly predict response to interdisciplinary treatment in a heterogeneous group of patients with chronic pain. Thus, a comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment program may achieve its full effectiveness across a wide array of pain/disability-related outcome variables, regardless of initial MPI profile categorization.