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Management of Chronic Nonmalignant Pain in the Elderly

Experience in an Outpatient Setting

  • Chapter
Handbook of Pain and Aging

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging ((SSAD))

Abstract

A multidisciplinary pain management clinic for older persons was established in Melbourne, Australia, during 1988. Areas of clinical expertise represented in the clinic include medicine (neurology, geriatric medicine), nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and pharmacy. In this chapter, we outline the rationale for, and function of, the clinic, describe the characteristics of referred patients, and detail clinical outcomes according to measures of pain, mood, and activity. In general, patients referred to the clinic improve according to these measures. The rationale for pain management clinics specifically for the elderly is discussed, and problems associated with long-term audit of patients in this setting are outlined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Ageing Research Institute and North West Hospital Pain Management Centre, Parkville, Australia, 3052

    Robert D. Helme, Mark Bradbeer, Benny Katz & Stephen J. Gibson

Authors
  1. Robert D. Helme
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  2. Mark Bradbeer
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  3. Benny Katz
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  4. Stephen J. Gibson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA

    David I. Mostofsky

  2. The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Jacob Lomranz

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Helme, R.D., Bradbeer, M., Katz, B., Gibson, S.J. (1997). Management of Chronic Nonmalignant Pain in the Elderly. In: Mostofsky, D.I., Lomranz, J. (eds) Handbook of Pain and Aging. The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0283-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0283-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0285-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0283-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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