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Bruce D. Dick

Bio: Bruce D. Dick is an academic researcher from University of Alberta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chronic pain & Population. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 81 publications receiving 1772 citations. Previous affiliations of Bruce D. Dick include Alberta Health Services & Dalhousie University.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings point to a specific cognitive mechanism, the maintenance of the memory trace, that is affected by chronic pain during task performance, and Cognitive function was not improved by short-term local analgesia.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Research has found that chronic pain disrupts attention and that this disruption can lead to significant functional impairment and decreased quality of life. We conducted the present study to examine how attention and memory are disrupted by chronic pain.METHODS:Computerized tests of work

243 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Enhanced TA combined with active IFC appears to lead to clinically meaningful improvements in outcomes when treating patients with CLBP, and the context in which physical therapy interventions are offered has the potential to dramatically improve therapeutic effects.
Abstract: Background Physical therapy influences chronic pain by means of the specific ingredient of an intervention as well as contextual factors including the setting and therapeutic alliance (TA) between provider and patient. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of enhanced versus limited TA on pain intensity and muscle pain sensitivity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) receiving either active or sham interferential current therapy (IFC). Design An experimental controlled study with repeated measures was conducted. Participants were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) AL (n=30), which included the application of active IFC combined with a limited TA; (2) SL (n=29), which received sham IFC combined with a limited TA; (3) AE (n=29), which received active IFC combined with an enhanced TA; and (4) SE (n=29), which received sham IFC combined with an enhanced TA. Methods One hundred seventeen individuals with CLBP received a single session of active or sham IFC. Measurements included pain intensity as assessed with a numerical rating scale (PI-NRS) and muscle pain sensitivity as assessed via pressure pain threshold (PPT). Results Mean differences on the PI-NRS were 1.83 cm (95% CI=14.3–20.3), 1.03 cm (95% CI=6.6–12.7), 3.13 cm (95% CI=27.2–33.3), and 2.22 cm (95% CI=18.9–25.0) for the AL, SL, AE, and SE groups, respectively. Mean differences on PPTs were 1.2 kg (95% CI=0.7–1.6), 0.3 kg (95% CI=0.2–0.8), 2.0 kg (95% CI=1.6–2.5), and 1.7 kg (95% CI=1.3–2.1), for the AL, SL, AE, and SE groups, respectively. Limitations The study protocol aimed to test the immediate effect of the TA within a clinical laboratory setting. Conclusions The context in which physical therapy interventions are offered has the potential to dramatically improve therapeutic effects. Enhanced TA combined with active IFC appears to lead to clinically meaningful improvements in outcomes when treating patients with CLBP.

203 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
31 Oct 2008-Pain
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that pain in FMS may play an important role in cognitive disruption, and point to disrupted working memory as a specific mechanism that is disrupted in this population.
Abstract: Accumulating evidence points to significant cognitive disruption in individuals with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). This study was carried out in order to examine specific cognitive mechanisms involved in this disruption. Standardized experimental paradigms were used to examine attentional function and working memory capacity in 30 women with FMS and 30 matched controls. Cognitive function was examined using performance on these tests and between group results were analysed in the context of important psychological and behavioural measures. Performance of standardized everyday attentional tasks was impaired in the FMS group compared to controls. Working memory was also found to be impaired in this group. Stimulus interference was found to be significantly worse in the FMS group as the demands of the tasks increased. These effects were found to exist independent of the measures of mood and sleep disruption. However, when pain levels were accounted for statistically, no differences existed between groups on cognitive measures. These findings point to disrupted working memory as a specific mechanism that is disrupted in this population. The results of this study suggest that pain in FMS may play an important role in cognitive disruption. It is likely that many factors, including disrupted cognition, play a role in the reduced quality of life reported by individuals with FMS.

158 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Apr 2019-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: Increased screen-time in pre-school is associated with worse inattention problems and children with a DSM-5 ADHD T-score above the 65 clinical cut-off were considered to have significant ADHD type symptoms.
Abstract: Background Pre-school children spend an average of two-hours daily using screens. We examined associations between screen-time on pre-school behavior using data from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study. Methods CHILD participant parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at five-years of age. Parents reported their child’s total screen-time including gaming and mobile devices. Screen-time was categorized using the recommended threshold of two-hours/day for five-years or one-hour/day for three-years. Multiple linear regression examined associations between screen-time and externalizing behavior (e.g. inattention and aggression). Multiple logistic regression identified characteristics of children at risk for clinically significant externalizing problems (CBCL T-score≥65). Results Screen-time was available for over 95% of children (2,322/2,427) with CBCL data. Mean screen-time was 1·4 hours/day (95%CI 1·4, 1·5) at five-years and 1·5 hours/day (95%CI: 1·5, 1·6) at three-years. Compared to children with less than 30-minutes/day screen-time, those watching more than two-hours/day (13·7%) had a 2·2-point increase in externalizing T-score (95%CI: 0·9, 3·5, p≤0·001); a five-fold increased odd for reporting clinically significant externalizing problems (95%CI: 1·0, 25·0, p = 0·05); and were 5·9 times more likely to report clinically significant inattention problems (95%CI: 1·6, 21·5, p = 0·01). Children with a DSM-5 ADHD T-score above the 65 clinical cut-off were considered to have significant ADHD type symptoms (n = 24). Children with more than 2-hours of screen-time/day had a 7·7-fold increased risk of meeting criteria for ADHD (95%CI: 1·6, 38·1, p = 0·01). There was no significant association between screen-time and aggressive behaviors (p>0.05). Conclusion Increased screen-time in pre-school is associated with worse inattention problems.

137 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although the neurobiological underpinnings of these factors are complex and require further investigation, comparable changes are seen in levels of serotonin, proinflammatory cytokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and other transmitters in these disorders.
Abstract: Aims/Objectives/Background:A significant number of people who experience chronic pain also complain of depression and sleep problems. The comorbidities and bidirectional relationships that exist between these ailments are well recognized clinically. Further, all 3 disorders involve similar alteratio

126 citations


Cited by
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01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: This is an introduction to the event related potential technique, which can help people facing with some malicious bugs inside their laptop to read a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon.
Abstract: Thank you for downloading an introduction to the event related potential technique. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look hundreds times for their favorite readings like this an introduction to the event related potential technique, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some malicious bugs inside their laptop.

2,445 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The accumulating evidence that chronic pain itself alters brain circuitry, including that involved in endogenous pain control, is examined, suggesting that controlling pain becomes increasingly difficult as pain becomes chronic.
Abstract: Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent health problems in our modern world, with millions of people debilitated by conditions such as back pain, headache and arthritis. To address this growing problem, many people are turning to mind-body therapies, including meditation, yoga and cognitive behavioural therapy. This article will review the neural mechanisms underlying the modulation of pain by cognitive and emotional states - important components of mind-body therapies. It will also examine the accumulating evidence that chronic pain itself alters brain circuitry, including that involved in endogenous pain control, suggesting that controlling pain becomes increasingly difficult as pain becomes chronic.

1,359 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The anatomical, neurochemical and molecular substrates common to both cognitive processing and supraspinal pain processing are described, and the evidence for their involvement in pain-related cognitive impairment is presented.

801 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The potential consequences of sleep disruption should be cognizant of how managing underlying medical conditions may help to optimize sleep continuity and consider prescribing interventions that minimize sleep disruption.
Abstract: Sleep plays a vital role in brain function and systemic physiology across many body systems Problems with sleep are widely prevalent and include deficits in quantity and quality of sleep; sleep problems that impact the continuity of sleep are collectively referred to as sleep disruptions Numerous factors contribute to sleep disruption, ranging from lifestyle and environmental factors to sleep disorders and other medical conditions Sleep disruptions have substantial adverse short- and long-term health consequences A literature search was conducted to provide a nonsystematic review of these health consequences (this review was designed to be nonsystematic to better focus on the topics of interest due to the myriad parameters affected by sleep) Sleep disruption is associated with increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, metabolic effects, changes in circadian rhythms, and proinflammatory responses In otherwise healthy adults, short-term consequences of sleep disruption include increased stress responsivity, somatic pain, reduced quality of life, emotional distress and mood disorders, and cognitive, memory, and performance deficits For adolescents, psychosocial health, school performance, and risk-taking behaviors are impacted by sleep disruption Behavioral problems and cognitive functioning are associated with sleep disruption in children Long-term consequences of sleep disruption in otherwise healthy individuals include hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, weight-related issues, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and colorectal cancer All-cause mortality is also increased in men with sleep disturbances For those with underlying medical conditions, sleep disruption may diminish the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents and may worsen the severity of common gastrointestinal disorders As a result of the potential consequences of sleep disruption, health care professionals should be cognizant of how managing underlying medical conditions may help to optimize sleep continuity and consider prescribing interventions that minimize sleep disruption

750 citations