#PainManagement

Chronic pain is a lifelong burden for millions. New research shows three non-drug therapies—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and pain reprocessing therapy (PRT)—can meaningfully reduce pain and improve quality of life. Telehealth is helping bring these options to patients in rural and underserved areas.

Global estimates show chronic pain persisting for three months or more, affecting about 8% to 11% of people, with higher rates in developed countries. In Thai clinics, back pain, headaches, and muscle problems are among the most common complaints. Beyond physical discomfort, chronic pain often disrupts sleep, mood, and daily routines. Traditional approaches rely heavily on medications, but these treatments can lose effectiveness over time and carry risks of overuse and side effects.

Emerging research is reshaping the management of chronic pain, with promising evidence for psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and pain reprocessing therapy (PRT). In a recent article by the Washington Post, experts highlighted three non-pharmacological techniques shown to help people manage persistent pain—offering hope for millions of Thais living with chronic conditions that medications alone often fail to alleviate (Washington Post).

Chronic pain, defined as pain lasting three months or longer, affects between 8% to 11% of people globally, with higher rates in more industrialized countries. Thailand is no exception, where back pain, headaches, and muscle disorders are among the most common complaints seen in clinics nationwide (Wikipedia). Persistent pain drains not only physical vitality but also mental health, often leading to depression, sleep difficulties, and profound disruption of daily life. Traditionally, treatment emphasized medications—ranging from paracetamol to opioids—but these often fall short for patients with ongoing pain and pose risks such as overuse, dependence, and diminished effectiveness over time.

A new wave of scientific research challenges some of the most common beliefs about using cannabis to treat health problems such as pain, insomnia, and mental health symptoms like paranoia, highlighting important lessons for Thai readers at a time when medical marijuana access is rapidly expanding in Thailand and across Asia.

The use of cannabis as medicine has surged since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalize cannabis plants in 2022—a move initially aimed to stimulate medical innovation and boost the economy through wellness tourism. But as ever more Thais purchase cannabis products online and at street dispensaries, fresh global research underscores that the effectiveness—and risks—of cannabis for many health problems are far from settled, with strong implications for the Thai public, patients, and caregivers (Washington Post, Medical News Today).

A surge of recent research questions common beliefs about cannabis as a medicine for pain, insomnia, and mental health symptoms such as paranoia. The findings matter for Thai readers as medical cannabis access expands in Thailand and across Asia.

Cannabis has entered mainstream health discussions since Thailand decriminalized cannabis plants in 2022. The move aimed to spur medical innovation and wellness tourism. Yet as more Thais buy cannabis products online and at street dispensaries, new global research shows that evidence on effectiveness and risks is far from settled. This has clear implications for patients, caregivers, and clinicians in Thailand.

New global research paints a nuanced picture of cannabis’ effects on insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety. Large studies from Australia and the United States show real improvements in quality of life for some patients, but also raise concerns about potential mental health risks such as paranoia, psychosis, and broader psychiatric issues.

For Thai readers, the findings emphasize a careful, evidence-based approach as Thailand continues to navigate its cannabis policy changes. The latest research offers cautious optimism about therapeutic potential while underscoring the need for robust safeguards and education.

Amid rising global interest and legal reforms surrounding cannabis, recent research is painting a complex picture of its true effects on common health problems such as insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety. A series of large-scale studies from Australia to the United States highlight encouraging long-term improvements in quality of life for patients with stubborn conditions, but also raise serious caution about potential mental health risks such as paranoia, psychosis, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders.

New research highlights a troubling pattern known as medical gaslighting—when clinicians dismiss or misattribute patients’ pain. The conversation around this issue is growing, especially for women with chronic gynecological pain. Experts say gender bias, gaps in medical training, and underfunding of women’s health research contribute to the problem, a concern echoed in studies summarized by The Conversation.

In Thailand, social taboos around sexual and reproductive health can silence discussion and delay care. Conditions such as endometriosis and vulvodynia affect about one in ten women worldwide, yet many patients report skepticism from healthcare providers. Phrases like “just relax” or “it’s all in your head” are still heard by some patients seeking help.

A growing body of research is shining an uncomfortable spotlight on the phenomenon of medical gaslighting—where healthcare professionals downplay, misattribute, or dismiss their patients’ pain—bringing renewed attention to a pervasive problem especially faced by women suffering from chronic gynecological pain conditions. This latest wave of studies, as described by experts in a recently published analysis on The Conversation, suggests that medical gaslighting is not only distressingly common but also deeply rooted in systemic gender bias, knowledge gaps in medical training, and persistent underfunding of women’s health research (The Conversation).

A significant breakthrough in chronic pain management has arrived, as new research reveals that learning to control emotions can bring meaningful, sustained relief to those suffering from persistent pain. A recently published clinical trial, led by a team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and reported by Neuroscience News, found that focusing on emotional regulation—not just physical symptoms—can significantly improve quality of life for chronic pain sufferers. This development is particularly significant for countries like Thailand, where chronic pain is a widespread but often poorly addressed health concern.

A new study suggests that teaching people to regulate their emotions can deliver lasting relief for chronic pain. A clinical trial led by researchers at the University of New South Wales found that focusing on emotional well-being, in addition to traditional medical care, improved quality of life for adults with persistent pain. The findings have clear relevance for Thailand, where chronic pain is common and health systems face access and capacity challenges.

New research uncovers how the brain quietly governs pain, revealing a natural analgesic system that can dampen pain before it reaches our conscious mind. Central to this process is the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a brain region that can suppress pain signals and alter our experience of injury. This insight helps explain why some severely injured individuals—such as soldiers in past wars—felt little pain and points toward safer, non-opioid pain strategies.

Recent research into the brain’s natural mechanisms for managing pain reveals fascinating insights that could revolutionize the way we approach pain management. At the heart of this discovery is the periaqueductal grey (PAG), a brain region that plays a crucial role in suppressing pain even before it reaches our conscious awareness. This study explains why individuals with severe injuries, such as soldiers during WWII, sometimes feel little to no pain and opens potential pathways for non-opioid pain therapies.

In an exciting development from the world of medical research, scientists at Stanford University have successfully re-created a human pain pathway in the laboratory, potentially revolutionizing the search for new pain-relief drugs. This innovative approach, reported in the journal Nature, involves growing four clusters of human nerve cells, or brain organoids, that can simulate the pain response pathway usually found in the human brain. This groundbreaking work lays the groundwork for more effective and targeted treatments for pain, offering hope to millions who suffer from chronic pain conditions.

Scientists at Stanford University have created a lab-grown model of a human pain pathway, a development that could accelerate the search for new pain-relief medicines. Reported in Nature, the work involves four clusters of human nerve cells, or brain organoids, designed to mimic how pain signals travel through the brain. This breakthrough lays the groundwork for more targeted and effective pain treatments for millions living with chronic pain.

Experts say the study offers a new way to test analgesic drugs. Traditional animal testing often fails to predict how humans respond due to biological differences. The organoid model provides a closer approximation of human pain pathways, making it a potentially valuable tool in drug development. Although not involved in the study, a senior researcher from another institution welcomed the potential of this “miniature nervous system” as a flexible testing platform.

A new study raises questions about whether paracetamol, the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen, can influence risk perception. In Thailand, where self-medication with over-the-counter drugs is common, understanding any broader effects is especially relevant for daily choices.

Researchers from a leading university conducted a double-blind study to see if acetaminophen affects risk-taking. In a peer-reviewed neuroscience journal, the findings suggest the drug may reduce anxiety about risky decisions. More than 500 university students were randomized to receive either acetaminophen or a placebo and then completed risk-related tasks, including a balloon-inflation game to win imaginary money. Participants who took acetaminophen tended to take more risks than those who received the placebo.