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Are Chronic Pain Patients with Dementia Being Undermedicated?
Wilco P. Achterberg, Ane Erdal, Bettina Sandgathe Husebo, Miriam Kunz, Stefan Lautenbacher. Journal of Pain Research, 2021-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
In dementia, neuropathological changes alter the perception and expression of pain. For clinicians and family members, this knowledge gap leads to difficulties in recognizing and assessing chronic pain, which may consequently result in persons with dementia receiving lower levels of pain medication compared to those without cognitive impairment. Although this situation seems to have improved in recent years, considerable geographical variation persists. Over the last decade, opioid use has received global attention as a result of overuse and the risk of addiction, while the literature on older persons with dementia actually suggests undertreatment. This review stresses the importance of reliable assessment and the regular evaluation and monitoring of symptoms in persons with dementia. Based on current evidence, we concluded that chronic pain is still undertreated in dementia.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Achterberg, W. P., Erdal, A., Husebo, B. S., Kunz, M., & Lautenbacher, S. (2021). Are Chronic Pain Patients with Dementia Being Undermedicated? Journal of Pain Research. https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s239321
Vancouver
Achterberg WP, Erdal A, Husebo BS, Kunz M, Lautenbacher S. Are Chronic Pain Patients with Dementia Being Undermedicated? Journal of Pain Research. 2021. doi:10.2147/jpr.s239321. PMID: 33623425.
BibTeX
@article{achterberg2021-33623425,
author = {Achterberg, Wilco P. and Erdal, Ane and Husebo, Bettina Sandgathe and Kunz, Miriam and Lautenbacher, Stefan},
title = {{Are Chronic Pain Patients with Dementia Being Undermedicated?}},
journal = {Journal of Pain Research},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.2147/jpr.s239321},
pmid = {33623425},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s239321}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- For clinicians and family members, this knowledge gap leads to difficulties in recognizing and assessing chronic pain, which may consequently result in persons with dementia receiving lower levels of pain medication compared to those without cognitive impairment.
- Over the last decade, opioid use has received global attention as a result of overuse and the risk of addiction, while the literature on older persons with dementia actually suggests undertreatment.
- Based on current evidence, we concluded that chronic pain is still undertreated in dementia.
Why it matters
This review concluded that chronic pain is still undertreated in people with dementia, partly because their pain is hard to recognize and assess. It stresses reliable assessment and regular monitoring of symptoms, but it does not test a dementia treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Pain Research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Pain Research: journal h-index 98 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 77 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.0 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 42 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Stefan Lautenbacher: h-index 59 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Leiden University Medical Center: institution h-index 930 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33623425) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s239321
- PubMed: 33623425
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Pain Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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