2021
Brain Structure and Function of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients on Long-Term Opioid Analgesic Treatment: A Preliminary Study
Murray K, Lin Y, Makary MM, Whang PG, Geha P. Brain Structure and Function of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients on Long-Term Opioid Analgesic Treatment: A Preliminary Study. Molecular Pain 2021, 17: 1744806921990938. PMID: 33567986, PMCID: PMC7883154, DOI: 10.1177/1744806921990938.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic low back painOpioid analgesicsCLBP patientsPain patientsChronic low back pain patientsLow back pain patientsBrain structuresOpioid analgesic treatmentBack pain patientsClasses of medicationsChronic pain patientsLow back painLong-term riskAltered brain structureSub-cortical areasOverall significant decreaseEvidence of misuseAnalgesic treatmentChronic treatmentBack painFunctional brain imagingLimbic areasUnmedicated patientsHealthy controlsNucleus accumbens
2020
Loss of nucleus accumbens low-frequency fluctuations is a signature of chronic pain
Makary MM, Polosecki P, Cecchi GA, DeAraujo IE, Barron DS, Constable TR, Whang PG, Thomas DA, Mowafi H, Small DM, Geha P. Loss of nucleus accumbens low-frequency fluctuations is a signature of chronic pain. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 10015-10023. PMID: 32312809, PMCID: PMC7211984, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918682117.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic low back pain patientsLow back pain patientsChronic painPain patientsChronic phaseChronic back pain patientsBack pain patientsRostral anterior cingulate cortexAnterior cingulate cortexAdditional independent datasetsRisk of transitionResting-state activityPersistent painBack painAccumbens volumeHealthy controlsNucleus accumbensPainSeparate cohortPatientsCingulate cortexPrevalent diseaseFunctional connectivityLoss of nucleiSubcortical signatures