Entering the loop: assessing the contribution of pain clinics in northern Britain

A survey of patients attending ten outpatient pain clinics throughout northern Britain was undertaken to identify opportunities for improving the treatment of pain patients. A short data collection form was designed to obtain information at every patient consultation. The patients were found to be a diverse group, many with complex pain problems. For many patients meaningful diagnoses could not be obtained. The focus of the study was altered to address a selected group of patients: those with neurogenic pain. This group was selected because it was comparatively easy to define, and previous studies suggested that nerve damage pain might not always be well managed. Many patients were found not to have had adequate trials of potentially effective therapies prior to attendance at the pain clinics. Some of these therapies, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, could have been prescribed by general practitioners. However, there were also substantial differences between the clinics in the proportion of patients receiving particular therapies. Finally, although many patients had psychological morbidity few were offered psychological assessment and management. These studies have shown that the pain clinics provide a range of therapies which patients are unlikely to receive elsewhere. But there is scope for improvement in the management of patients in pain clinics and efforts are currently being directed towards this.