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Some 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, according to the Institute of Medicine, but funding to support scientific research that could lead to effective new therapies for pain remains inadequate. Recognizing this dilemma, the American Pain Society (APS) today released its Pain Research Agenda for the 21st Century, which identifies promising but underfunded approaches to develop new treatments and to help make currently used pain medications safer and more effective.

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Assuring appropriate drug theory is important for effective pain management, and a new study published in The Journal of Pain reported that use of a short compliance checklist by clinicians can best identify individuals most likely to misuse prescription pain medications.

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Methadone safety in pain management and treatment of drug addiction is becoming a serious concern in the wake of steep increases in methadone-associated overdose deaths. Safer prescribing can be achieved by improving physician and patient education about methadone safety. The American Pain Society (APS), www.americanpainsociety.org, today sponsors a free webinar for clinicians covering its recent methadone safety clinical practice guideline on at 1:00 p.m. EST.

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A new study published in The Journal of Pain reports that 39 million people in the United States or 19 percent have persistent pain, and the incidence varies according to age and gender. The Journal of Pain is the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, www.americanpainsociety.org.

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Pre-treatment pain intensity is an independent survival predictor for patients with head and neck cancer, according to new research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, http://www.americanpainsociety.org.

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ronic pain in adolescents is $19.5 billion a year. The Journal of Pain is the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, www.americanpainsociety.org.

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As prescription drug abuse and overdose have escalated nationwide, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) were implemented in every state, but little is known about the types of clinicians who make the most use of PDMPs. Researchers from Oregon Health and Sciences University examined the differences between prescribers of controlled substances who use PDMPs and those who do not, and reported their findings in The Journal of Pain, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, www.americanpainsociety.org.

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The American Pain Society (www.americanpainsociety.org) announced today it has begun a collaboration with the Pain Research Forum (www.painresearchforum.org) in which APS will provide grant support for PRF’s “Papers of the Week” website postings of new papers in pain research, which are published in peer-reviewed journals covering pain, neuroscience and related discipline

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Gregory W. Terman, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle has begun a two-year term as president of the American Pain Society (APS, www.amercianpainsociety.org). He succeeds Roger Fillingim, PhD in the organization’s top leadership role.

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Results of an Australian study published in The Journal of Pain showed that after controlling for depression internalized stigma is negatively associated with lower levels of self-esteem and personal control of pain.

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Positive activities, such as increasing supportive emotions, can reduce body discomfort in adults with mild to moderate chronic pain, according to research reported in The Journal of Pain, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, www.amercianpainsociety.org.

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Many cancer patients endure severe pain and, by far, one of the most excruciating pain conditions is caused by oral cancer, for which even the strongest available pain medications are largely ineffective. One of the nation’s leading oral cancer treating clinicians, speaking at the American Pain Society’s annual meeting, said he believes that while prospects for major treatment advances remain bleak, a new cannabinoid-based medication may have some promise for providing meaningful pain relief.

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Mobile medicine is helping chronic pain patients cope with and manage their condition thanks to new smartphone apps, which can track patients from a distance and monitor pain, mood, physical activity, drug side effects, and treatment compliance.

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The American Pain Society today urged private donors to step forward to help fill the pain research grant allocation void caused by federal government cuts by contributing to the new American Pain Society Pain Research Fund, which was announced today at the organization’s annual scientific conference.

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Improved physician education and patient counseling about methadone safety and ECG monitoring to identify patients at high risk for cardiac problems will lead to safer use of the medication, according to the American Pain Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline on Methadone Safety, published this week in The Journal of Pain.

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To help primary care physicians treat chronic pain more safely and effectively, the American Pain Society will host “Pain Care for Primary Care,” in collaboration with the Journal of Family Practice. The three-day educational conference will be held in Orlando, July 17-19.

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The 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) will convene April 30 through May 3 at the Tampa Convention Center. APS is the leading multidisciplinary professional organization in the United States dedicated to advancing pain-related research, education, treatment and team-oriented professional practice.

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The lessening of pain sensitivity achieved with spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) occurs as a result of the treatment and not as much from a placebo effect caused by the expectation of receiving SMT, according to a study published in The Journal of Pain.

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Tempromandibular pain disorders (TMDs) are characterized by a dysfunction of the TMD joint and cause orofacial pain, masticatory dysfunction or both. A new study published in The Journal of Pain showed that standard treatment approaches yield modest to large improvement in pain, but the addition of cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful.

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There is strong evidence showing that individuals who experienced chronic pain during childhood have chronic pain as adults, but few studies have evaluated the characteristics of pain that persists from childhood through adult years. Researchers from the University of Michigan found that one in six adult pain patients had pain as children or adolescents, and their pain was widespread and neuropathic with psychological comorbidities and decreased function.