Chronic Pain and Psychosocial Functions in Adults with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of chronic pain on psychosocial functions in adults with athetoid cerebral palsy. METHOD: Thirty-five adults with athetoid cerebral palsy were recruited as subjects, then the radiologic and electrodi agnostic studies were assessed. The characteristics of pain in severity and disability status with Von Korff's chronic pain grade classification system and psychosocial functional status using affect balance scale, Beck depression inventory, social adjustment scale and satisfaction with life scale were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (80.0%) subjects had the pain lasting more than 3 months. The mean score of characteristic pain intensity was 65.5+/-11.5. Eleven subjects (31.4%) showed both abnormal radiologic and electrodiagnostic findings, and these subjects had higher disability score among the subjects who complaint of chronic pain (p<0.05). The pain intensity had significant relationship with negative affects such as depression and dissatisfaction with life style (p<0.05). In addition, social adjustment tended to be lower in subjects with severe chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Chronic pain was commonly observed in adults with athetoid cerebral palsy, and the pain adversely affected psychosocial functions. Therefore, proper management of chronic pain might be helpful for enhancing their psycho social functions in these subjects.