ABSTRACT
The dearth of theoretically driven research on the predictors of pediatric chronic pain may unwittingly contribute to needless suffering in children and adolescents by underinvestigating a potentially treatable condition. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hypothesized predictive effects of perceived stress on pediatric chronic pain intensity in 148 children and adolescents. Consistent with the a priori Biobehavioral Model of Pediatric Pain, higher perceived stress was predictive of greater pediatric pain intensity. The results are discussed with regard to the implications for cognitive-behavioral pediatric pain treatment.
Subject(s)
Pain Measurement , Pain/complications , Stress, Psychological/complications , Adolescent , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/rehabilitation , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Pain/etiology , Regression Analysis , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Pediatric chronic pain continues to be relatively underinvestigated and undertreated. The objective of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the emotional distress hypothesized to be concurrently associated with the chronic pain experience in children and adolescents. One hundred and sixty children and adolescents with chronic pain and their parents completed standardized assessment instruments measuring pain intensity, depressive symptoms, state anxiety, trait anxiety, general self-esteem, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Consistent with the a priori Biobehavioral Model of Pediatric Pain, higher patient-perceived pain intensity was associated with higher depressive and anxious symptoms, lower general self-esteem, and higher behavior problems. The results are discussed in regard to preventing and treating pain and suffering in children and adolescents with chronic pain.
Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/psychology , Arthritis, Juvenile/psychology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/psychology , Pain/psychology , Sick Role , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Anxiety/psychology , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Internal-External Control , Male , Pain Measurement , Personality Assessment , Self ConceptABSTRACT
Evaluated the validity, stability, and clinical utility of the Pediatric Pain Questionnaire (PPQ), a comprehensive, multidimensional instrument for assessing childhood pain. Previous studies demonstrated adequate psychometric properties of the PPQ using small samples. Results of the current study, using a large sample (N = 100) of children and adolescents with chronic pain associated with rheumatic disease, were consistent with initial validation studies. High correlations were found among visual analog scale (VAS) pain intensity ratings obtained from parents, physicians, and patients. Significant correlations also were found between pain ratings and measures of disease activity and functional status. VAS ratings evidenced moderate stability over a 6-month period in this sample of youth with relatively stable disease activity. Other components of the PPQ provide comprehensive information that is clinically useful for treatment planning and evaluation.
