The chronobiology, chronopharmacology, and chronotherapeutics of pain.

Data for this review of chronobiology, chronopharmacology, chronotherapeutics and pain were derived from electronic searches of the medical literature (Medline) utilizing both Silver Platter and OVID search engines. Further information was obtained from personal conversations with members of the International Society for Chronobiology involved in chronopharmacology and pain research and reviews of non-Medline-referenced materials and journals such as Chronobiologia and the Annual Review of Chronopharmacology. A variety of data from proceedings were available, but was not utilized because of their nonreferred status and the relative unavailability of such sources; however, peer-reviewed, published proceedings have been included in this review. A total of 62 studies were identified as relevant to this review of biological rhythms and pain; of these, only 6 were conducted by nurses. Studies were broadly categorized by purpose as experimental chronobiology in humans (9), experimental chronobiology in animals (12), clinical chronobiology (25), chronopharmacology in animals (6), chronopharmacology in humans (6), and chronotherapeutic interventions (4). All statistically significant findings were reported at the p < 0.05 level.