Experience and assessment of pain in individuals with cognitive impairments.

• The authors review the literature on pain experience and pain assessment in people with cognitive impairments, focusing on individuals with dementia and mental retardation. The impact of cognitive impairments on pain sensation is not well understood, although some observations have been published. For example, research suggests that pain experience can be influenced by neuropathological processes in the brain and memory impairments. Reporting of pain decreases as cognitive impairment increases. In addition, poor verbal skills lead to difficulties in communicating pain. Pain assessment depends primarily on one's ability to describe the dimensions of pain. Individuals with limited ability to report pain can use pain assessment methods that rely on simple cognitive tasks. For individuals who have no ability to report pain, an outside observer must describe the discomfort experienced by interpreting the patient's body language. The authors conclude that further research is needed to develop valid and reliable assessment methods for people with cognitive impairments.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Activities of Daily Living

Acute Disease

Aged

Alzheimer Disease

physiopathology

Brain

physiopathology

Chronic Disease

Cognition Disorders

physiopathology

Dementia

physiopathology

Facial Expression

Humans

Kinesics

Memory Disorders

physiopathology

Mental Retardation

physiopathology

Pain

physiopathology

Pain Measurement

Pain Threshold

physiology

Verbal Behavior

physiology

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