Neil O’Connell
@neiloconnell.bsky.social
Physio, Professor, BBQer. Editor @cochrane. Views are my own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Brunel University/ Cochrane
Interested in trustworthy evidence: https://entrust-pe.org/
Interested in trustworthy evidence: https://entrust-pe.org/
Pinned
IASP Formally Endorses the ENhancing TRUST in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) Framework - International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
The ENTRUST-PE project Recognizing multiple important and systematic challenges to the trustworthiness of research, the ENTRUST-PE project convened an international, interdisciplinary network of lead...
www.iasp-pain.org
The International Association for the Study of Pain have chosen to formally endorse the ENTRUST-PE framework (www.iasp-pain.org/publications...
).
This is an excellent step in mobilising the global pain research community towards more trustworthy evidence.
Why?: www.jpain.org/article/S152...
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
January 13, 2026 at 8:27 AM
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
The 2026 IASP Global Year will focus on neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain affects millions worldwide and can cause serious disability and reduced quality of life. IASP’s 2026 Global Year explores its challenges and best practices in diagnosis and treatment. #GlobalYear2026 bit.ly/49eE3Y1
January 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The 2026 IASP Global Year will focus on neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain affects millions worldwide and can cause serious disability and reduced quality of life. IASP’s 2026 Global Year explores its challenges and best practices in diagnosis and treatment. #GlobalYear2026 bit.ly/49eE3Y1
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
There is no clear evidence that cannabis-based medicines provide pain relief for chronic neuropathic pain, an updated Cochrane review finds.
Read more here: www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
Read more here: www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
January 19, 2026 at 9:02 AM
There is no clear evidence that cannabis-based medicines provide pain relief for chronic neuropathic pain, an updated Cochrane review finds.
Read more here: www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
Read more here: www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
** NEW PAPER in BMJ **
"AMSTAR-PF: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies"
Allows the quality of prognostic factor reviews to be examined.
Brilliantly led by Michael L Henry.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
"AMSTAR-PF: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies"
Allows the quality of prognostic factor reviews to be examined.
Brilliantly led by Michael L Henry.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
AMSTAR-PF: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies
The ability to predict the onset or natural history of an illness, or how people may respond to a treatment, guides clinical decision making. These predictions are commonly based on prognostic factors...
www.bmj.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
** NEW PAPER in BMJ **
"AMSTAR-PF: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies"
Allows the quality of prognostic factor reviews to be examined.
Brilliantly led by Michael L Henry.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
"AMSTAR-PF: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies"
Allows the quality of prognostic factor reviews to be examined.
Brilliantly led by Michael L Henry.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Did you ask Santa for a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies? The new AMSTAR-PF tool is now published in @bmj.com www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
December 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Did you ask Santa for a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies? The new AMSTAR-PF tool is now published in @bmj.com www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
December 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Did you ask Santa for a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies? The new AMSTAR-PF tool is now published in @bmj.com www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
Excellent work from Michael Henry @UNISA driving this project.
@cochranesmg.bsky.social @jbiebhc.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
Out today in @annalsofim.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7326/ANNA...
Our systematic review of 11 RCTs found bisphosphonates may reduce short-term pain but increase risk for AEs. Results limited by substantial, unexplained heterogeneity, introduced by inclusion of terminated trial data.
doi.org/10.7326/ANNA...
Our systematic review of 11 RCTs found bisphosphonates may reduce short-term pain but increase risk for AEs. Results limited by substantial, unexplained heterogeneity, introduced by inclusion of terminated trial data.
Efficacy and Safety of Bisphosphonates for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 0, No 0
Background: Clinical guidelines recommend bisphosphonates for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) despite limited evidence of efficacy. Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonat...
doi.org
December 16, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Out today in @annalsofim.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7326/ANNA...
Our systematic review of 11 RCTs found bisphosphonates may reduce short-term pain but increase risk for AEs. Results limited by substantial, unexplained heterogeneity, introduced by inclusion of terminated trial data.
doi.org/10.7326/ANNA...
Our systematic review of 11 RCTs found bisphosphonates may reduce short-term pain but increase risk for AEs. Results limited by substantial, unexplained heterogeneity, introduced by inclusion of terminated trial data.
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
Noteworthy that of the 2 institutional representatives, one thought there weren’t enough cases for an independent agency, other worried they’d be overwhelmed
Scientific misconduct can waste public funds and harm human health. But views differ about the best way to tackle it.
Should Australia establish an independent body to investigate scientific misconduct? We asked 5 experts
theconversation.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Noteworthy that of the 2 institutional representatives, one thought there weren’t enough cases for an independent agency, other worried they’d be overwhelmed
“Science is neutral and free of bias.”
If only. Plot twist: science is done by humans, not snowpeople. ☃️
Recognising bias doesn’t mean losing trust in science. It means taking responsibility for how we assess it.
🎄 lnkd.in/dKzeUFCn
🍫 lnkd.in/d2vfPS_u
If only. Plot twist: science is done by humans, not snowpeople. ☃️
Recognising bias doesn’t mean losing trust in science. It means taking responsibility for how we assess it.
🎄 lnkd.in/dKzeUFCn
🍫 lnkd.in/d2vfPS_u
December 12, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Nice summary of advances in pain research in 2025 just out in Lancet Neurology: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Great to see ENTRUST-PE get a solid nod! entrust-pe.org
Great to see ENTRUST-PE get a solid nod! entrust-pe.org
Advances in pain research in 2025 illuminate the complexities of neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain affects about 9% of adults and is driven by a variety of conditions,
most notably diabetic neuropathy.1 The bio-psycho-social burden of neuropathic pain
is key to recognising chronic ...
www.thelancet.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Nice summary of advances in pain research in 2025 just out in Lancet Neurology: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Great to see ENTRUST-PE get a solid nod! entrust-pe.org
Great to see ENTRUST-PE get a solid nod! entrust-pe.org
As an accompaniment to this new perspective piece on measuring harms in pain research, the recording of our webinar "Assessing harms in pain research" is now available.
@iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
@iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”. The challenge of ... : PAIN
An abstract is unavailable.
dx.doi.org
December 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
As an accompaniment to this new perspective piece on measuring harms in pain research, the recording of our webinar "Assessing harms in pain research" is now available.
@iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
@iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
Our recent and excellent @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social webinar "Optimising Openness and Transparency in Pain Research" is now free to view here perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
International Association for the Study of Pain: Methodology, Evidence Synthesis, And Implementation (MESISIG)
perc.iasp-pain.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Our recent and excellent @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social webinar "Optimising Openness and Transparency in Pain Research" is now free to view here perc.iasp-pain.org/methodology-...
New systematic review focused on amputation for complex regional pain syndrome and briliantly led by @yannickgilanyi.bsky.social from UNSW and Neura
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
HT @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @usasp.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
HT @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @usasp.bsky.social
Amputation for complex regional pain syndrome: a systematic review
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling pain condition, usually confined to a single limb. Amputation of the affected limb is sometimes p…
sciencedirect.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM
New systematic review focused on amputation for complex regional pain syndrome and briliantly led by @yannickgilanyi.bsky.social from UNSW and Neura
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
HT @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @usasp.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
HT @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @usasp.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
🚨 BPS Endorses the ENTRUST-PE Framework
The British Pain Society is proud to endorse ENTRUST-PE – a framework boosting the trustworthiness, transparency, and rigor of pain research.
🔗Read more: m.entrust-pe.org
The British Pain Society is proud to endorse ENTRUST-PE – a framework boosting the trustworthiness, transparency, and rigor of pain research.
🔗Read more: m.entrust-pe.org
October 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🚨 BPS Endorses the ENTRUST-PE Framework
The British Pain Society is proud to endorse ENTRUST-PE – a framework boosting the trustworthiness, transparency, and rigor of pain research.
🔗Read more: m.entrust-pe.org
The British Pain Society is proud to endorse ENTRUST-PE – a framework boosting the trustworthiness, transparency, and rigor of pain research.
🔗Read more: m.entrust-pe.org
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
Great to see the OPTIMETH framework for optimising clinical trials in CRPS, brilliantly led by Keith Smart from @ucddublin.bsky.social now out in @painreports.bsky.social
journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
@britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social
journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
@britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social
journals.lww.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Great to see the OPTIMETH framework for optimising clinical trials in CRPS, brilliantly led by Keith Smart from @ucddublin.bsky.social now out in @painreports.bsky.social
journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
@britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social
journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
@britishpainsoc.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @iasp.bsky.social @iasp-mesisig.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
MESISIG is now on BlueSky. We've migrated who we follow 9as far as possible) from X but do please follow us back. We promise all things methodology and pain research!
October 7, 2025 at 12:13 PM
MESISIG is now on BlueSky. We've migrated who we follow 9as far as possible) from X but do please follow us back. We promise all things methodology and pain research!
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
Registration and reporting will become mandatory for all clinical trials next year. It's good to see many trial sponsors already delivering on this, but with clear @hralatest.bsky.social guidance, no excuse for anyone not to be transparent about results #AllTrials
www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and...
www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and...
Guidance on changes to the clinical trials regulations
www.hra.nhs.uk
October 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Registration and reporting will become mandatory for all clinical trials next year. It's good to see many trial sponsors already delivering on this, but with clear @hralatest.bsky.social guidance, no excuse for anyone not to be transparent about results #AllTrials
www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and...
www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and...
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”. The challenge of ... : PAIN
An abstract is unavailable.
dx.doi.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:50 AM
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
INSPECT-SR: A tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials.
INSPECT-SR: A tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials.
INSPECT-SR: a tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials
The integrity of evidence synthesis is threatened by problematic randomised controlled trials (RCTs). These are RCTs where there are serious concerns about the trustworthiness of the data or findings....
www.medrxiv.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:11 PM
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
INSPECT-SR: A tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials.
INSPECT-SR: A tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials.
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”. The challenge of ... : PAIN
An abstract is unavailable.
dx.doi.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:50 AM
To do no harm, we must first “know harms”
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Our new perspective piece on the
challenge of measuring and reporting adverse
events in interventions for pain is now available in @painthejournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
@iasp.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social @britishpainsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
📣 Save the date for the 12th PCI webinar on September 18, 2025, at 4 PM CET!! Dorothy Bishop (@deevybee.bsky.social) will present "Editors matter: How negligent publishers subvert quality control in scientific publishing ". For more details and registration, visit:
PCI Webinar Series - Peer Community In
The PCI webinar series is a series of seminars on research practices, publication practices, evaluation, scientific integrity, meta-research, organised by Peer Community In
peercommunityin.org
August 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
📣 Save the date for the 12th PCI webinar on September 18, 2025, at 4 PM CET!! Dorothy Bishop (@deevybee.bsky.social) will present "Editors matter: How negligent publishers subvert quality control in scientific publishing ". For more details and registration, visit:
Out today 🚨 Our Cochrane review of 67 RCTs finds no clear evidence of benefit for ketamine or other NMDA antagonists for chronic pain. IV ketamine associated with risk of psychotomimetic effects, nausea, and vomiting. doi.org/10.1002/1465...
Ketamine and other NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain - Ferraro, MC - 2025 | Cochrane Library
Select your preferred language for Cochrane reviews and other content. Sections without translation will be in English.
doi.org
August 18, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
Out today 🚨 Our Cochrane review of 67 RCTs finds no clear evidence of benefit for ketamine or other NMDA antagonists for chronic pain. IV ketamine associated with risk of psychotomimetic effects, nausea, and vomiting. doi.org/10.1002/1465...
Ketamine and other NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain - Ferraro, MC - 2025 | Cochrane Library
Select your preferred language for Cochrane reviews and other content. Sections without translation will be in English.
doi.org
August 18, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Out today 🚨 Our Cochrane review of 67 RCTs finds no clear evidence of benefit for ketamine or other NMDA antagonists for chronic pain. IV ketamine associated with risk of psychotomimetic effects, nausea, and vomiting. doi.org/10.1002/1465...
Reposted by Neil O’Connell
The ENTRUST-Pain Evidence (Entrust-PE) is an important initiative to ensure that pain science is of high quality.
Framework published in J Pain.
Endorsed by @iasp.bsky.social & @efic.bsky.social.
More here: m.entrust-pe.org
#pain
Framework published in J Pain.
Endorsed by @iasp.bsky.social & @efic.bsky.social.
More here: m.entrust-pe.org
#pain
May 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The ENTRUST-Pain Evidence (Entrust-PE) is an important initiative to ensure that pain science is of high quality.
Framework published in J Pain.
Endorsed by @iasp.bsky.social & @efic.bsky.social.
More here: m.entrust-pe.org
#pain
Framework published in J Pain.
Endorsed by @iasp.bsky.social & @efic.bsky.social.
More here: m.entrust-pe.org
#pain