Pain and Analgesia Assessment Module (PAAM)

Director: Laurence A. Bradley, PhD

Co-Director: Timothy J. Ness, MD, PhD

Department/Center Association: Medicine/Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases Center; Anesthesiology

Established: 2000

Mission

The primary aim of the Pain and Analgesia Assessment Module (PAAM) is to provide a central facility for state-of-the-art quantitative sensory testing, assessment of responses to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic analgesia interventions, and psychophysical assessment of pain for epidemiologic, translational, and clinical outcome studies.

Facility Description

The facility, which is located in the Pittman General Clinical Research Center (GCRC), offers access to three human pain models essential for analgesic trials: laboratory-based, acute clinical, and chronic clinical pain. The Core is equipped with two Medoc TSA-2001 Thermal Sensory Analyzers with the Pain Stimulation software platform. These units are used to perform quantitative sensory testing (QST) procedures and are the only FDA approved QST device. One of the Medoc units remains in the PAAM at all times, while the other unit may be transported to other laboratories (e.g., Neuronuclear Medicine) involved in pain research. The PAAM is equipped with a Hokanson E20 rapid cuff inflator and AG100 Air Source for conducting the submaximal effort tourniquet pain procedure. The PAAM also has three Chatillon and two Fischer dolorimeters for evaluating responses to mechanical pressure stimulation. In addition, pulse oximeter and automated blood pressure devices are available for monitoring cardiovascular responses.

Research Information

Pain is a primary motivator for health care utilization and is estimated to cost society in excess of $100 billion annually. Pain assessment, however, requires a multidimensional approach that requires the use of one or more of the following techniques: 1) laboratory-based, psychophysical measurement procedures to assess the intensity, sensory, and unpleasantness dimensions of pain produced by quantifiable stimuli; 2) psychometrically sound questionnaires to evaluate the intensity, sensory, and unpleasantness dimensions of individuals’ clinical pain experiences as well as their functional and psychosocial adjustment to pain; and 3) reliable and valid measurement of behavioral displays of pain.

Services and Fees

Laurence A. Bradley, PhD (Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology) and Timothy J. Ness, MD, PhD (Anesthesiology), are Co-Directors of the PAAM. They are available for consultation with UAB faculty and trainee investigators regarding choices of pain assessment procedures for specific projects. In addition, Ms. Adriana Sotolongo, BS (Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology) serves as the PAAM technician. She is available for programming the Medoc units for thermal pain assessment protocols, performing laboratory pain assessments, and training investigators and their assistants in performing these assessments. Ms. Sotolongo is also responsible for scheduling PAAM laboratory time for investigators.

The PAAM is supported entirely by research grant funds. Therefore, Drs. Bradley and Ness request that faculty and trainee investigators consult with them during the development of pilot studies and research grants concerning funding required for laboratory technician effort, laboratory supplies, equipment maintenance, and purchase of new software or equipment.

Examples of recent investigations that have been performed in the PAAM include studies of 1) sex and ethnic differences in pain sensitivity; 2) effects of opioid administration on pain sensitivity; 3) effects of laboratory stressors on HPA axis activity, cardiovascular responses, and pain responses; 4) aggregation of pain sensitivity among family members of patient probands and controls; and 5) correlation of experimental pain responses with functional MRI changes evoked by painful stimuli.

Contact Information

Director: Laurence A. Bradley, PhD

Email: braddog@uab.edu

Phone: 205-934-8550

Co- Director: Timothy J. Ness, MD, PhD

Email: loch@uab.edu

Phone: 205-975-9643

Approved by: Larry Bradley, PhD, Director and Timothy Ness, MD, PhD Co-Director
Date: February 25, 2008

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