Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 51-9 | Page 95
J Rehabil Med 2019; 51: 719–720
Cochrane Corner
rehabilitation.cochrane.org
ARE THERE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR REDUCING THE USE OF
PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS IN ADULTS WITH CHRONIC NON-CANCER PAIN?
– A COCHRANE REVIEW SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY
Chiara ARIENTI
From the IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy.
The aim of this commentary is to discuss the publis-
hed Cochrane Review “Interventions for the reduc-
tion of prescribed opioid use in chronic non-cancer
pain” by Eccleston C, Fisher E, Thomas KH, Hearn L,
Derry S, Stannard C, Knaggs R, Moore RA (1) from a
rehabilitation perspective. This Cochrane Corner is
produced in agreement with Journal of Rehabilita-
tion Medicine by Cochrane Rehabilitation 1
Key word: Opioid; Pain; Cognitive therapy; Rehabilitation;
Cochrane Review Summary.
J Rehabil Med 2019; 51: 719–720
Correspondence address: Chiara Arienti, IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo
Gnocchi, Milan, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
BACKGROUND
Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a common condition
with prevalence rates as high as 33% of the population in
western population and its optimal management is crucial
to the health and wellbeing of the community. Opioids
have long been used for acute and cancer pain and in
the last two decades they have also been prescribed for
CNCP (2). The 2012 American guidelines for responsible
opioid prescribing in CNCP gave recommendations for
ensuring the appropriate management of CNCP, and
minimizing abuse of opioids and important side effects,
such as tolerance and dependence (3). Sedation, impaired
cognitive function, depression, constipation, and bladder
dysfunction are common during opioid therapy (4). For
these reasons, professional societies worldwide have
This summary is based on a Cochrane Review previously published
in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 11. Art.
No.: CD010323. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010323.pub3. (see www.
cochranelibrary.com for information). Cochrane Reviews are regularly
updated as new evidence emerges and in response to feedback, and
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews should be consulted for the
most recent version of the review.
The views expressed in the summary with commentary are those of the
Cochrane Corner author(s) and do not represent the Cochrane Library, the
Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Review Group, or Wiley.
produced guidance advocating/promoting the judicious
and careful use of opioids. Rehabilitation professionals
who treat CNCP in rehabilitation settings should know the
effectiveness or not of different methods to reduce the use
of prescribed opioids for CNCP discussed in this review.
INTERVENTIONS FOR THE REDUCTION OF
PRESCRIBED OPIOID USE IN CHRONIC NON-
CANCER PAIN
(Eccleston C, Fisher E, Thomas KH, Hearn L, Derry S,
Stannard C, Knaggs R, Moore RA, 2017)
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS COCHRANE
REVIEW?
The aim of this Cochrane Review was to investigate the
effectiveness of different methods designed to achieve
reduction or cessation of prescribed opioid use for the
management of CNCP in adults compared to controls.
WHAT WAS STUDIED IN THE COCHRANE
REVIEW?
The review included adults (18 years of age or older)
using prescription opioids for management of CNCP
lasting for 3 months or more. The interventions studied
were all that aimed to dose reduction or cessation .
The primary outcomes were prescribed opioid use
and adverse events (AEs) related to opioid reduction.
Secondary outcomes were pain intensity/severity,
psychological functioning, and physical functioning.
1
SEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SEARCH
DATE OF THE COCHRANE REVIEW
The review authors searched Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and Embase
for studies published up to 4 January 2017. There were
no language restrictions and www.clinicaltrials.gov was
searched for ongoing studies.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. www.medicaljournals.se/jrm
Journal Compilation © 2019 Foundation of Rehabilitation Information. ISSN 1650-1977
doi: 10.2340/16501977-2608