Update on structured pain assessment for the documentation of diagnosis-independent symptoms and signs associated with pain.

Concerning the diagnosis and therapy of pain syndromes, standardized descriptions similar to those used in the examination of psychopathological findings via the system produced by the AMDP ("Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Methodik und Dokumentation in der Psychiatrie", i. e., the working group establishing standardized methodology and documentation within psychiatry) are still lacking. Therefore, the authors of this article have founded a working group to establish standardized methodology and documentation for symptoms and signs associated with pain, although not at a diagnosis-specific level, in order to promote standardization in the documentation of pain and rating of the symptoms associated with a given set of medical results. This article presents a system for documenting the symptoms and signs associated with pain globally and independently of the diagnosis (Structured Pain Assessment System) with nomenclature that is inspired by the AMDP system. The objective of this working group is to develop documentation for a uniform multidimensional pain assessment (with defined terminology) that serves as a comparable and unified standard in the field.

[Coercive Measures in Psychiatry - Even if Carried out lege artis Pose a Risk for Complications or Harm]. / Zwangsmaßnahmen in der Psychiatrie ­ Auch lege artis durchgeführt besteht ein Risiko für Komplikationen.

Coercive measures in psychiatry are used as a last resort if other means to avert imminent danger failed. Our case shows, that even if all precautions were taken complications may arise: We report about a young man, who had been restrained. After the belts had been partly loosened, he again became extremely aggressive. When the restraints had to be tightened he could grab and swallow the Segufix®-Metal Pin.