Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare neuropathic disorder with an excruciating facial pain. The unpredictable pain attacks may result in anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine and to evaluate the level of chronic facial pain and its association with the appearance of anxiety and depression. Materials and Methods. A total of 30 patients with TN and chronic facial pain (group A, 25 women and 5 men; mean age, 64.2±3.2 years) and 30 with atypical facial pain (group B, 26 women and 4 men; mean age, 64.8±1.9 years) were examined. A standardized diagnostic protocol was applied to all of them, which consisted of the following: 1) demographic data and estimation of overall pain on a visual analog scale; and 2) evaluation of emotional status using the Sheehan Disability Scale, Covi’s Anxiety Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. Results. The intensity of facial pain was much higher in the group A than the group B (89.7±2.5 versus 44.0±2.9, P<0.0001). Besides, the group A reported increased scores on the disability and anxiety symptom scales (17.4±1.3 and 9.7±0.3 vs. 6.4±0.7 and 3.6±0.1, respectively, P<0.0001). Severe (46.7%) or moderate (30%) levels of depression were documented in the majority of patients in the group A, while the group B did not show depressive symptoms (P<0.0001). Conclusions. Patients with TN and chronic facial pain had a significantly higher level of pain perception, and they presented the higher level for anxiety and depression than those with atypical facial pain. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for the additional assessment of emotional status of patients in order to improve the efficacy of treatment and patients’ quality of life.

Background and objective: Irrational use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is the main cause of adverse effects-associated hospitalizations among all medication groups leading to extremely increased costs for health care. Pharmacoepidemiological studies can partly reveal such issues and encourage further decisions. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the utilization of non-opioid analgesics (ATC classification N02B and M01A) in Lithuania, and to compare it with that of other Baltic and Scandinavian countries in terms of compliance to the WHO pain treatment guidelines and the EMA safety recommendations on NSAID use. Materials and methods: The dispensing data were obtained from the sales analysis software provider in the Baltic countries (SoftDent, Ltd., Kaunas, Lithuania); State Medicine Control Agencies of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; Norwegian Prescription Database; Swedish Database for Medicines; and Danish Prescription Database. Data included the utilization of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Utilization was expressed in defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day. Results: During the 11-year period, the utilization of drugs belonging to the N02B and M01A groups increased by 22.8%, from 58.37 in 2005 to 71.68 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2016 in Lithuania. Contrary to the WHO guidelines on pain management, all Baltic countries were more likely to use NSAIDs than other analgesics and antipyretics: in 2015, the drugs of the M01A group were used 6.04, 5.79, and 6.11 times more than those of N02B in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, respectively, whereas the Scandinavian countries preferred the N02B to the M01A group: in Denmark and Sweden, the utilization of other analgesics and antipyretics was 2.33 and 1.24, respectively, times higher than that of NSAIDs. In Norway, the use of both groups was similar. In the Scandinavian countries, paracetamol was the analgesic of first choice, whereas, in Lithuania, it took only the third place. The most popular drug in Lithuania was diclofenac, and its utilization accounted for 30.04% of all non-opioid analgesics in 2016. Although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) restricted the use of certain NSAIDs, i.e., cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, nimesulide, and diclofenac, their use consistently increased by 15.91, 2.83, and 1.41 times, respectively, showing incompliance with the international guidelines. Conclusions: Neither the EMA safety policy on NSAID use nor the WHO pain treatment guidelines had a sufficient impact on the rational use of NSAIDs in Lithuania. The use of NSAIDs restricted by the EMA (diclofenac, COX-2 inhibitors, nimesulide, and piroxicam) remains high or even increases, while the utilization of safer alternatives (paracetamol and naproxen) remains relatively low as compared with the Scandinavian countries. Incompliance with international guidelines may result in increased morbidity, mortality and higher costs for health care.

The authors believe, that to improve cancer pain management in Lithuania (1) more attention should be paid to psychological status of patients, (2) patients should be more educated about the need and consequences of opioid use for cancer pain, and (3) adherence to pain management regimens should be improved.

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Pain is a common problem in diabetic neuropathy, but relatively little has been published regarding the extent to which it needs to be addressed in clinical practice. Objective. To assess neuropathic pain profile and its association with quantitative sensory testing in painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Material and methods. Altogether, 61 consecutive diabetic inpatients with symmetric neuropathic complaints were enrolled. Clinical neurological examination and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were performed. Patients were interviewed using the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) and filled in the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Results. Of all patients, 49 (80.3%) had clinical diabetic polyneuropathy. Only 17 of these patients complained of lower extremity pain on an initial interview, while 27 marked it in the MPQ. The intensity of deep and superficial pain did not differ, but patients rated deep pain as more unpleasant than superficial (6.27±2.37 vs. 4.30±1.42 on the NPS, P=0.034). Superficial pain NPS items tended to correlate with QST results, while deep pain items did not. Only female gender (OR=7.87) and lower glycosylated hemoglobin level (OR=0.65) were predictive of pain in case of diabetic neuropathy. Conclusions. Standard pain questionnaires were useful in identifying pain sufferers. At the same intensity, deep neuropathic pain was more unpleasant than superficial. Pain manifestation was associated with female gender and lower level of glycosylated hemoglobin.