When the Best of Intentions Leads to Bad Outcomes.

There is no question that the opioid use problem in America has reached unacceptable proportions. What is in question, however, is the best way to address this problem. Unfortunately, this is a multidimensional problem that will not be solved with a simple unidimensional solution. This commentary examines the multidimensional nature of this problem and the resultant guidelines that have been proposed to address it. There is a cautionary tale of the historical dangers of applying an "obvious" solution to a problem, only to find that more investigation and an iterative approach can actually lead to the correct solution. In particular, the authors question the wisdom of implementing guidelines that have no provisions for re-examination, to assess both intended as well as unintended consequences that might occur. This is the standard for good evidence-based guideline development and implementation. To do less, even under such dire circumstances as these, is to provide less than optimum medical care.

Using urine drug testing to support healthy boundaries in clinical care.

Risk management is first and foremost about protecting patients. This article will examine risk management in general, and urine drug testing (UDT) in particular, as core constituents in an effective, comprehensive risk management strategy. The article will explore UDT as a tool to help practitioners and patients make better choices in the clinical management of chronic pain. How one makes these difficult clinical decisions based on UDT results as well common barriers encountered in conducting patient-centered UDT will also be examined.

Universal precautions revisited: managing the inherited pain patient.

"Universal Precautions in Pain Medicine: A Rational Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain" was published in 2005. In it, a unified 10-step approach to the assessment and management of patients suffering from chronic pain was proposed. As well, a triage scheme of risk stratification was offered. By placing patients into risk categories of low, medium, or high (Groups I, II, and III), it became possible to recommend to primary care practitioners those patients whom they might confidently manage on their own, comanage with specialty support, or refer to specialty clinics with more experience and resources to tackle these often challenging cases. It is important to note that Universal Precautions is not simply about opioid prescribing, although the use of opioids does highlight the value inherent in managing risk in all patients. Moreover, it should serve to remind health care professionals that the presence of significant psychiatric comorbidities, including substance-use disorders, may represent treatable conditions that must be addressed in order to optimize outcomes. Universal Precautions as a concept should be based upon mutual trust and respect between patient and practitioner, both of whom should be committed to setting and achieving realistic goals in both cancer and noncancer pain patients. The goal of this article is to explore the application of a Universal Precautions approach to manage the care of patients with chronic pain who no longer have an appropriate source of the medications upon which they have become physically dependent-so-called inherited pain patients.

Pain and addiction: managing risk through comprehensive care.

The use of controlled substances, including opioids, in people who may suffer from concurrent substance use disorders presents challenges to the healthcare professional. Pain and addiction can coexist either as a continuum or separate comorbid conditions. Success in the treatment of either condition requires an approach that encompasses the biopsychosocial needs of the patient. In pain management, controlled substances can be either the problem or the solution, depending on the healthcare professional's training and perspective. Not all patients on opioid pharmacotherapy do well. Some, with inadequate treatment responses, may actually improve on discontinuation of their opioids. Therefore, in any trial of pharmacotherapy, there must be a clear exit strategy as part of the treatment plan. The goal of this article is to explore the importance of making reasoned clinical decisions when faced with aberrant behavior, which is when the patient steps outside the boundaries of the agreed on treatment plan and is established as early as possible in the doctor-patient relationship. In this case, it is essential to separate the "motive" from the "problematic behavior" when trying to interpret the implications of aberrant behavior rather than simply applying a diagnostic label of addiction, which may or may not be correct.

Buprenorphine: new tricks with an old molecule for pain management.

Sublingual buphrenorphine is a unique opioid medication based on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties. It may be used "on label" as an alternative choice to methadone for the treatment of opioid addiction or "off-label" for the treatment of both acute and chronic pain. Because of high mu receptor affinity and resultant blockade, it has been suggested that this might interfere with the management of moderate to severe pain in patients on opioid agonist treatment. The following article will offer strategies and approaches to address some of these real and perceived challenges.

Universal precautions in pain medicine: a rational approach to the treatment of chronic pain.

The heightened interest in pain management is making the need for appropriate boundary setting within the clinician-patient relationship even more apparent. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine before hand, with any degree of certainty, who will become problematic users of prescription medications. With this in mind, a parallel is drawn between the chronic pain management paradigm and our past experience with problems identifying the "at-risk" individuals from an infectious disease model. By recognizing the need to carefully assess all patients, in a biopsychosocial model, including past and present aberrant behaviors when they exist, and by applying careful and reasonably set limits in the clinician-patient relationship, it is possible to triage chronic pain patients into three categories according to risk. This article describes a "universal precautions" approach to the assessment and ongoing management of the chronic pain patient and offers a triage scheme for estimating risk that includes recommendations for management and referral. By taking a thorough and respectful approach to patient assessment and management within chronic pain treatment, stigma can be reduced, patient care improved, and overall risk contained.

Urine drug testing in pain medicine.

The use of urine drug testing (UDT) has increased over recent years. UDT results have traditionally been used in legal proceedings under supervision of a medical review officer (MRO). In this context, testing has been required by statute or regulation and so is typically not in the "donor's" interest. Physicians, however, can use UDT to assist in monitoring their patient's treatment plan. By using UDT in a patient-centered fashion, both patient and physician interests are maintained. The MRO-based model of testing in the clinical setting can lead to mistrust and a deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship. Clinical testing can enhance the doctor-patient relationship when the results are used to improve communication. A patient-centered model of UDT should be used to improve quality of care. This article discusses why urine is the biological specimen of choice for drug testing; who, when and why to test; testing methods; and, most importantly, interpretation of results.