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Chronic abacterial prostatitis--a urological chronic pain syndrome?
1Department of Anesthesiology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, UWMC-Roosevelt, 4245 Roosevelt Way, N.E. Seattle, WA 98105-6920, USA Department of Urology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, UWMC-Roosevelt, 4245 Roosevelt Way, N.E. Seattle, WA 98105-6920, USA.
Pain
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Chronic abacterial prostatitis, a common urological condition, should be recognized as a chronic pain syndrome. This new perspective offers better treatment options for affected men.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pain Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) presents with characteristics similar to chronic pain syndromes.
- It is often overlooked in both urology and pain literature.
- This condition significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that chronic abacterial prostatitis be classified as a chronic pain syndrome.
- To review the current understanding of CAP in urology literature.
- To explore the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary approach for CAP management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of chronic prostatitis in urology.
- Survey of articles on non-malignant pain in the journal PAIN (1985-1995).
- Analysis of CAP characteristics in comparison to established chronic pain syndromes.
Main Results:
- Chronic abacterial prostatitis shares key features with recognized chronic pain syndromes, including pain as a primary symptom and a lack of clear medical findings.
- A review of pain literature revealed minimal focus on urological pain.
- Patients often undergo multiple unsuccessful treatments.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing CAP as a chronic pain syndrome can improve patient outcomes.
- A multidisciplinary approach, drawing from experiences with other chronic pain conditions, may offer a more effective treatment strategy.
- This shift in perspective can benefit a large group of symptomatic men who currently have limited treatment options.