The Impact of Nonpharmacological Interventions on Opioid Use for Chronic Noncancer Pain: A Scoping Review.

Despite the lack of evidence, opioids are still routinely used as a solution to long-term management for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). Given the significant risks associated with long-term opioid use, including the increased number of unregulated opioid pills at large in the opioid ecosystem, opioid cessation or reduction may be the desired goal of the patient and clinician. Viable nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) to complement and/or replace opioids for CNCP are needed. Comprehensive reviews that address the impact of NPIs to help adults with CNCP reduce opioid use safely are lacking. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus for studies published in English. The initial search was conducted in April 2021, and updated in January 2024. The literature search yielded 19,190 relevant articles. Thirty-nine studies met the eligibility criteria and underwent data extraction. Of these, nineteen (49%) were randomized controlled trials, eighteen (46%) were observational studies, and two (5%) were secondary analyses. Among adults with CNCP who use opioids for pain management, studies on mindfulness, yoga, educational programs, certain devices or digital technology, chiropractic, and combination NPIs suggest that they might be an effective approach for reducing both pain intensity and opioid use, but other NPIs did not show a significant effect (e.g., hypnosis, virtual reality). This review revealed there is a small to moderate body of literature demonstrating that some NPIs might be an effective and safe approach for reducing pain and opioid use, concurrently.

Changes in Psychological Outcomes after Cessation of Full Mu Agonist Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain.

Improved understanding of psychological features associated with full mu agonist long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) cessation may offer advantages for clinicians. This preliminary study presents changes in psychological outcomes in patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) after LTOT cessation via a 10-week multidisciplinary program which included treatment with buprenorphine. Paired t-tests pre- and post-LTOT cessation were compared in this retrospective cohort review of data from electronic medical records of 98 patients who successfully ceased LTOT between the dates of October 2017 to December 2019. Indicators of quality of life, depression, catastrophizing, and fear avoidance, as measured by the 36-Item Short Form Survey, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9-Item Scale, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaires revealed significant improvement. Scores did not significantly improve for daytime sleepiness, generalized anxiety, and kinesiophobia, as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. The results suggest that successful LTOT cessation may be interconnected with improvements in specific psychological states.

Microinduction to Buprenorphine from Methadone for Chronic Pain: Outpatient Protocol with Case Examples.

The negative sequelae of full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT) are numerous and well documented. One safer alternative to COAT use in chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a transition to buprenorphine. However, transitioning patients from methadone COAT regimens can be challenging due to the pharmacodynamics of buprenorphine, as well as to the limited commercial formulations of buprenorphine available, and their restrictive instructions for use. Presented here are clinical cases transitioned to buprenorphine from methadone via a novel microinduction protocol during enrollment in an outpatient, group, integrative, multidisciplinary program. The protocol was successful to promote satisfactory and sustained COAT cessation for patients with CNCP and is arguably safer than current conventional practices.

Prolonged cessation of chronic opioid analgesic therapy: a multidisciplinary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To contribute to the literature of best-practice approaches to promote full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT) cessation in a population with chronic, noncancer pain by describing initial and extended follow-up outcomes from a limited group program that utilized a standardized, multidisciplinary curriculum containing robust complementary care access in a private practice setting. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of data from electronic health records and the California Prescription Drug Monitoring Program for program participants between October 2017 and December 2019. METHODS: Daily oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME) dose use upon entry, at program graduation, at 6 months post graduation, and at extended follow-up of 7 to 24 months post graduation were compared and reported for program participants. RESULTS: A total of 109 program participants with incoming daily COAT use amounts as high as 600 MME (median, 60 MME; 25% quartile, 36.5 MME; 75% quartile, 90 MME; interquartile range, 53.5 MME) had a successful COAT cessation rate of 90% at program graduation, which was maintained at 6 months and extended follow-up at 95% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study contributes to the literature by documenting a successful and potentially generalizable strategy to promote COAT cessation, and by providing unusually lengthy follow-up for postintervention COAT cessation monitoring.

Anxiety and Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Behavior May Be Significant Risk Factors for Chronic Opioid Analgesic Therapy Reliance for Patients with Chronic Pain-Results from a Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe differences between patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) who were successfully able to cease full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT), and those who exhibited refractory COAT reliance, among those who participated in a multidisciplinary program designed for COAT cessation. DESIGN: A retrospective review of electronic medical records (EMR) data was organized for preliminary analysis. SETTING: A multicenter private practice specializing in CNCP, which received patient referrals from the surrounding geographical area of primary and specialty care offices in Northern California. SUBJECTS: Data from 109 patients with CNCP who participated in a multidisciplinary program to cease COAT between the dates of October 2017 to December 2019 were examined. METHODS: EMR data, pre-COAT cessation, of oral morphine milligram equivalence (MME) and validated questionnaire responses assessing anxiety and fear-based beliefs and behavior, as well as opioid misuse, were extracted and compared between those who successfully ceased COAT and those who did not. RESULTS: Patients who were unsuccessful at COAT cessation reported significantly higher Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FAB) scores. No significant differences were found based on incoming MME amounts, Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) or Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) scores. Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) scores showed a split pattern with unclear significance. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that fear avoidance beliefs and behavior, as measured by the FAB, play a significant role in refractory COAT reliance for patients with CNCP.