Factor Structure of the Adult Responses to Children's Symptoms: Validation in Children and Adolescents With Diverse Chronic Pain Conditions

Measuring and Contextualizing School Refusal in Pediatric Chronic Pain: Establishing the Psychometric Properties of the SChool REfusal EvaluatioN Measure for Youth With Chronic Pain

OBJECTIVE

School refusal is a longstanding difficulty for youth with chronic pain. Yet, research is hindered by a lack of adequate measurement tools to assess and describe the complex interpersonal and system-level factors contributing to school refusal. This study investigates the utility of the SChool REfusal EvaluatioN (SCREEN) measure and its psychometric properties in a sample of youth with chronic pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Youth undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation at outpatient pain clinics completed self and parent-report questionnaires. Descriptive data examined school refusal. Internal consistency and construct validity were tested. Multiple regressions examined the parent and child factors related to school refusal.

RESULTS

In all, 698 youth with chronic pain participated. Two-thirds reported symptoms suggesting at-risk or clinically significant symptoms of school refusal. Cronbach alpha scores were in the acceptable to good range on the SCREEN. Convergent validity for the interpersonal discomfort subscale of the SCREEN was established. The child's fear of pain, stress, peer relationships, and parent protective behaviors significantly correlated with SCREEN total scores. Participants enrolled in fully in-person school during the study period reported significantly higher scores on the interpersonal discomfort scale than those enrolled in remote learning.

DISCUSSION

Our results provide evidence that youth with chronic pain experience significant challenges with school functioning and offer some support for the reliability and validity of the SCREEN in a sample of youth with chronic pain, a population for which few appropriate measures of school functioning have been established. The SCREEN measure may aid in assessing school refusal, with good clinical potential to quantify risk and identify modifiable factors.

Moderators of digital cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with sickle cell disease pain: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Pain is the hallmark symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD). By adolescence, 20% of youth with SCD develop chronic SCD pain. Our randomized controlled trial found significant reductions in pain in youth receiving digital cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) vs education control. However, little is known about factors that moderate the effects of CBT in adolescents with SCD. This secondary data analysis aims to identify adolescent and family characteristics that moderate treatment effects on pain outcomes in 111 adolescents aged 12 to 18 with SCD (M = 14.9, SD = 1.9, girls = 59%) and their caregivers. Adolescents were randomly assigned to digital CBT (N = 57) or education control (N = 54). Digital CBT included separate content for parents/caregivers (ie, a website to learn problem-solving skills and behavioral and communication strategies) and youths (ie, a smartphone app and website to learn pain management skills). Outcomes were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment (2 months), and follow-up (6 months). Potential moderators included pretreatment variables (ie, adolescent variables: age, executive functioning, anxiety, depression; parent variables: psychological distress, protective behaviors, family functioning). There was a significant overall effect modification on pain intensity outcomes from pretreatment parent psychological distress (P = 0.012), where CBT appeared more effective among those with elevated parental distress. Differential intervention effects were observed across multiple potential moderator groups, though most of these differences did not reach statistical significance. Our study underscores the importance of family factors in understanding the efficacy of digital CBT for adolescent SCD pain, pointing to the need for future research to optimize CBT through targeted family-focused strategies.

Maternal depression, parenting, and child psychological outcomes in the context of maternal pain

Parental chronic pain is associated with adverse outcomes in children, but the mechanisms of transmission are largely untested. Mothers with chronic pain (N = 400, Mage = 40.3 years, 90.5% White) and their children (Mage = 10.33 years, 83.3% White, 50.2% female) were recruited in 2016-2018 to test longitudinal pathways of risk transmission from maternal chronic pain to children's psychological symptoms, examining roles of parenting, maternal depression, and child distress tolerance. Maternal pain was associated with positive (β = .28) and pain-specific (β = .10) parenting behaviors. Maternal depression was associated with lower child distress tolerance (β = -.03), which was associated with greater child psychological symptoms (β = -.62). Parenting and maternal pain were not prospectively associated with child outcomes. When considering the dual-generational impacts of chronic pain, physical and psychological functioning should be examined.

A randomized controlled trial of graded exposure treatment (GET living) for adolescents with chronic pain

ABSTRACT

Graded exposure treatment (GET) is a theory-driven pain treatment that aims to improve functioning by exposing patients to activities previously feared and avoided. Combining key elements of GET with acceptance-based exposure, GET Living (GL) was developed for adolescents with chronic pain (GL). Based on robust treatment effects observed in our single-case experimental design pilot trial of GL (NCT01974791), we conducted a 2-arm randomized clinical trial comparing GL with multidisciplinary pain management (MPM) comprised of cognitive behavioral therapy and physical therapy for pain management (NCT03699007). A cohort of 68 youth with chronic musculoskeletal pain (M age 14.2 years; 81% female) were randomized to GL or MPM. Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, 54% of participants received zoom video delivered care. Assessments were collected at baseline, discharge, as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were self-reported pain-related fear and avoidance. Secondary outcomes were child functional disability and parent protective responses to child pain. As hypothesized, GL improved in primary and secondary outcomes at 3-month follow-up. Contrary to our superiority hypothesis, there was no significant difference between GL and MPM. Patients reported both GL and MPM (in person and video) as credible and were highly satisfied with the treatment experience. Next steps will involve examining the single-case experimental design data embedded in this trial to facilitate an understanding of individual differences in treatment responses (eg, when effects occurred, what processes changed during treatment within the treatment arm). The current findings support GET Living and MPM for youth with chronic pain.

Measurement properties of the Health Anxiety by Proxy Scale (HAPYS): A new questionnaire to assess parents' worries about their child's health

OBJECTIVE

Health anxiety by proxy refers to parents' excessive worries about their child's health. The Health Anxiety by Proxy scale (HAPYS) is a new self-report questionnaire to assess parents' worries and behaviors regarding their child's health. This study aimed to investigate the measurement properties of the HAPYS.

METHODS

Questionnaires were completed by 204 parents, and a HAPYS score was obtained for 200 parents: 39 parents diagnosed with health anxiety, 33 parents with different anxiety disorders, 33 parents with a Functional Somatic Disorder, and 95 healthy parents. We evaluated the following measurement properties: structural validity, reliability, convergent validity ((pain catastrophizing, parents' reports of child's emotional and physical symptoms), discriminant validity (parental reports of child's well-being), and known-groups validity (see compared groups above).

RESULTS

HAPYS demonstrated a one factor dimensionality, and excellent internal reliability (α = 0.95; CI: 0.93-0.97) and test-retest reliability after two weeks (ICC = 0.91; CI: 0.87-0.94). Convergent validity with the construct of parental catastrophizing about child pain was good (r = 0.72; CI: 0.64-0.78)). Good known-groups validity was demonstrated by the largest total HAPYS score observed in parents with health anxiety (median = 35; IQR: 9-53) and the lowest score in healthy parents (median = 9; IQR: 5-15) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The findings support that HAPYS is a useful measure of health anxiety by proxy. Future research should examine the measurement properties in larger samples and different languages with further statistical analyses of structural validity.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Balance Program to reduce pain-related disability in pediatric sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND

Sickle cell disease (SCD) pain is associated with functional impairment, and treatment is often limited to pharmacological approaches with unwanted side effects. Although behavioral interventions exist for non-SCD pain populations, interventions designed to address pain-related impairment in SCD are lacking.

METHODS

Twenty youth (9-17 years) with SCD completed a four-week telemedicine pain intervention (NCT04388241). Participants and caregivers completed baseline and post-intervention PROMIS pain measures and the Treatment Evaluation Inventory-Short Form (TEI-SF). Descriptive analyses assessed feasibility and acceptability. Reliable Change Index analyses assessed for significant post-intervention changes in pain functioning. Paired t test analyses compared baseline and post-intervention opioid prescription fills.

RESULTS

All participants completed at least one treatment session. Eighteen (90%) youth completed all sessions. Youth (100%) and caregivers (94%) rated the intervention as moderately or highly acceptable on the TEI-SF. Forty-seven percent of caregivers and 44% of youth reported reliably significant improvements in pain interference after the intervention (median T-score differences: 24.8 and 23.5, respectively). Sixty-five percent of caregivers (T-score improvement difference: 19.3) and 31% of youth (T-score improvement difference: 32) reported improvements in pain behaviors. There was no significant difference in opioid prescription fills pre- and post-intervention (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Balance Program is feasible, highly acceptable, and can be delivered remotely to reduce barriers to care. Approximately half of youth and caregivers reported significant declines in pain interference following the intervention, with substantial improvements in functioning for treatment responders. Behavioral pain interventions are important adjunctive treatments to uniquely address functional impairment associated with acute and chronic pain in SCD.

Internet-Delivered Therapy for Parents With Health Anxiety by Proxy: Protocol for a Single-Case Experimental Design Study

BACKGROUND

Health anxiety (HA) by proxy is described as parents' obsessive worries that their child is severely ill although this is not medically confirmed. Research on HA by proxy suggests that it is highly distressing for the parent and that the child may be at risk of developing maladaptive symptom coping strategies. No targeted treatment for this group exists. We developed PROXY, an 8-week psychological internet-delivered treatment for parents with HA by proxy. The treatment components of PROXY are informed by cognitive behavioral therapy as well as acceptance and commitment therapy, and it was developed in collaboration with parents experiencing HA by proxy and clinical experts.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes the protocol for a study investigating the potential effects of PROXY on parents' worries about their children's health using a single-case experimental design (SCED).

METHODS

Five parents clinically evaluated as experiencing HA by proxy will be included. A replicated randomized SCED study will be conducted in which each participant will be randomized to receive treatment after a baseline period of between 7 and 26 days (phase A). The treatment phase duration is 8 weeks for all participants (phase B), followed by a follow-up phase lasting between 14 and 33 days (phase C), ensuring that all participants remain in the study for 96 days. Participants will report daily anxiety level by SMS text message throughout the study. They will also answer self-report questionnaires, including questions on HA by proxy and own HA, 4 times during the study. Data will be submitted to structured visual analysis to inspect anxiety level, the variability of anxiety, trends, the overlap of data points among phases, when effects occur, and the consistency of data patterns across participants. Furthermore, randomization tests will be conducted for each participant to test the null hypothesis that PROXY will have no effect on participants' anxiety.

RESULTS

The recruitment of parents began in June 2022. As of March 2, 2023, a total of 4 parents have been included in the study. Data collection was expected to cease in April 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this protocol describes the only study of treatment for HA by proxy. As the prevalence of this condition is still unknown, a SCED was chosen because this method allows the inclusion of very few participants while still providing information on effects and treatment courses. Conducting the study with a replicated randomized phase design enables methodologically sound testing despite the inclusion of very few participants. The results will inform researchers on individual treatment courses and effects, which may direct future research in terms of the possible mechanisms of change, ideas for how to refine the treatment content, and how the treatment may be offered to patients in the future.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04830605; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04830605.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/46927.

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Chronic Pain in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Protocol for a Single-Group Feasibility Trial

BACKGROUND

There are over 500,000 survivors of childhood cancer in North America alone. One in 4 survivors experiences chronic pain after treatment has been completed. Youths with chronic pain report increased anxiety, depression, activity limitations, and sleep disturbances. An 8-week web-based cognitive behavioral treatment for chronic pain (Web-Based Management of Adolescent Pain [WebMAP]) has demonstrated a reduction in pain in youths but has not yet been explored in survivors.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are to (1) test the feasibility and acceptability of WebMAP for a sample of survivors with chronic pain and their parents; (2) assess the acceptability of WebMAP using qualitative interviews; (3) assess WebMAP's effect on activity limitations, pain intensity, depression and anxiety symptoms, and sleep disturbances; and (4) assess WebMAP's effect on parent pain catastrophizing and parental response to their child's pain.

METHODS

A single-arm mixed methods pre-post intervention study design will be used. Participants will be 34 survivors and at least one of their parents or caregivers. Inclusion criteria are (1) a cancer history, (2) current age of 10-17 years, (3) >2 years post treatment or >5 years post diagnosis, (4) pain present over prior 3 months impairing >1 area of daily life and occurring >1 time per month, and (5) computer access with broadband internet. Survivors will complete a pretreatment questionnaire, which will include the following: the Child Activity Limitations Interview, the pain intensity Numerical Rating Scale, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Pain Interference, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia Severity Index, and Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale. Parents will complete the Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Parent Version and the Adult Responses to Child Symptoms. Upon completion of pretreatment questionnaires (T0), survivors will begin WebMAP. After the 8-week intervention, survivors will complete the same measures (T1), and at 3-month follow-up (T2). Posttreatment interviews will be conducted to determine acceptability. Feasibility will be assessed via recruitment and retention rates. Treatment engagement will be measured by number of modules completed. Pre-post outcome data will be assessed using linear mixed models. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. Patient partners will be involved in study design, recruitment, interpretation of results, and knowledge translation.

RESULTS

This study has been funded in January 2022. Data collection started in May 2022 and is projected to end in August 2023. We have enrolled 10 participants as of December 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

Investigating whether WebMAP is useful to survivors will be an important step in improving pain management in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05241717; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05241717.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/45804.

The influence of child pain catastrophizing and parent behavior on health-related quality of life in pediatric sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND

Literature suggests that a child's appraisal of pain and parent responses to pain are critical in predicting health-related outcomes. In youth with sickle cell disease (SCD), few investigations have examined child pain catastrophizing, and even fewer have examined the role that parents play in responding to SCD pain within the family context. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between pain catastrophizing, parent response to child SCD pain, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

PROCEDURE

The sample (N = 100) included youth with SCD (ages 8-18) and their parent. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire and the Adult Responses to Child Pain Symptoms; youth completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-SCD Module.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that pain catastrophizing, parent minimization, and parent encouragement/monitoring significantly predicted HRQoL. Minimizing and encouragement/monitoring parent responses moderated the relationship between pain catastrophizing and HRQoL, such that parent minimizing weakened the relationship and parent encouragement/monitoring strengthened the relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Paralleling pediatric chronic pain literature, findings suggest that pain catastrophizing predicts HRQoL in youth with SCD. However, findings from moderation analyses diverge from the chronic pain literature; data suggest that encouragement/monitoring responses strengthen the negative relationship between child pain catastrophizing and HRQoL. Child pain catastrophizing and parent response to SCD pain may be appropriate targets for clinical intervention to improve HRQoL. Future studies should strive to better understand parent responses to SCD pain.

Long-term Pain Symptomatology in PICU Survivors Aged 8-18 Years

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Children discharged from the PICU often experience long-term physical, psychological, social and cognitive challenges, described as postintensive care syndrome. This study fills a critical gap by describing the long-term pain symptoms many children experience using child self-report.

METHODS

Participants in this cross-sectional study were children aged 8 to 18 years (and 1 parent, n = 64 dyads) who were 8 to 24 months post-PICU discharge. Participants completed measures assessing pain, psychosocial function, and treatment utilization. Health information relevant to the PICU admission was obtained from the electronic medical record.

RESULTS

Children were an average age of 14.3 years and 50% female. Average pain intensity in the past month was 3.65 (0-10 numeric rating scale), with 36% of children reporting pain ≥2 to 3 days a week. Youth with higher intensity (≥4) and more frequent pain (≥2-3 days a week) had greater pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear, anxiety, and sleep disturbance than those with less frequent and intense pain. Higher pain frequency was also associated with greater pain-related disability and depressive symptoms. Pain was not associated with any PICU-related variables abstracted from the electronic medical record. Parents reported children frequently accessed pain treatment services postdischarge; however, 37.5% reported the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impacted access to recommended services.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant portion of children experience pain post-PICU discharge. For many of these children, pain is frequent and is associated with impairments in psychosocial function. Future prospective research studies can be used to identify risk factors of poor pain outcomes so children can receive targeted interventions.

Parental Response to Children's Chronic Pain

AIMS

The aim of this study was to describe the behavior of Moroccan parents toward their children's chronic pain.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospital wards. Parents of hospitalized children with chronic pain aged six or over participated in the study. The parents' behavior toward their children's pain was assessed using an Arabic version of the Adult Responses to Children's Symptoms (ARCS) scale. The scores for each dimension were calculated by summing the responses of the items related to that dimension, and then they were normalized to obtain scores ranging from 0 to 100. The comparison of scores was performed using Student's t-test or ANOVA. The association between quantitative variables was assessed using a correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

A total of 100 parents of children with chronic pain participated in the study. The children's average age was 10.0 ± 2.7 years. The majority of children (62%) experienced pain for more than six months. The joints were the most common location of pain (43%), followed by the abdomen (35%). The "Protect" and "Monitor" dimensions had good reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.80 and 0.69, respectively. The highest mean normalized scores were noted for the "Monitor" and "Protect" dimensions, with means of 82.1 and 70.8, respectively. The "Minimize" dimension had the lowest mean score of 41.4. Parental behavior was not linked to child- or pain-related characteristics. There was no difference in how mothers and fathers behaved towards their children's pain.

CONCLUSION

Parents of children with chronic pain in Morocco scored higher on all dimensions of the ARCS, with the highest scores in the "protect" and "monitor" dimensions. These behaviors can negatively affect children's somatic symptoms, functional disability, and anxiety. Our study revealed the importance of providing support to both children and parents of children with chronic pain to manage the pain and related behaviors.

Agile development of a digital exposure treatment for youth with chronic musculoskeletal pain: protocol of a user-centred design approach and examination of feasibility and preliminary efficacy

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pain affects a significant number of children and impacts multiple domains including social, emotional and behavioural functioning, and negatively impacts family functioning. Roughly 5% of youth with chronic pain experience moderate to severe pain-related disability, with pain-related fear and avoidance of activities being identified as substantial barriers to treatment engagement. Evidence supports targeted psychological and physical interventions to address these barriers (eg, graded-exposure treatment), but accessibility to intervention is undermined by a shortage of services outside of urban areas, high treatment-related costs, and long provider waitlists; highlighting the need to develop digitally delivered behavioural intervention, using agile and iterative study designs that support rapid development and timely dissemination.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study seeks to develop an effective and scalable intervention for youth with chronic pain and their caregivers. This paper presents a user-centred protocol for the development and refinement of a digital exposure treatment for youth and caregivers, as well as the study design to examine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the treatment using single-case experimental design (SCED). Assessments include daily diaries, completed from baseline and daily throughout the intervention (~6 weeks), and at 3-month follow-up, as well as self-report measures completed at baseline, end of intervention and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes include treatment satisfaction, treatment expectancy, adherence to daily dairies and functional disability. Secondary outcomes are pain-related fear and avoidance of activities, pain catastrophising and pain acceptance. We will present descriptive and model-based inference analyses, based on SCED reporting guidelines. We will calculate effect sizes for each individual on each outcome. We will examine mean treatment expectancy, credibility and satisfaction scores, and patient drop-out percentage.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board at Stanford University (protocol #53323). Findings will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05079984.

Using the Parent Risk Screening Measure (PRISM) to Assess Pain-Related Risk Factors in Parents of Youth Seeking Treatment for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain

OBJECTIVES

The Parent Risk Screening Measure (PRISM) rapidly assesses parent distress, psychosocial function, and behaviors associated with child pain-related dysfunction in parents of youth with chronic pain. Recognizing the importance of parent pain-related cognitions and responses to pain during the acute pain period, the current study examined the utility of the PRISM in screening parents of youth with acute pain.

METHODS

Participants were 175 parent-youth dyads taking part in a larger study examining risk and resilience in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain. Parents completed the PRISM and a battery of measures reporting on their child's pain-related disability and cognitions and behaviors in response to their child's pain. Youth reported on their pain, pain-related disability, pain-related fear, catastrophizing, and pain self-efficacy.

RESULTS

PRISM total scores ( M =2.55, SD=2.77) were correlated with many parent and child report measures (eg, protectiveness, catastrophizing, and pain-related fear), with higher scores associated with greater symptoms. Using published PRISM cutoffs, 86.9% of parents were classified as low and 13.13% as elevated risk. t tests revealed significant differences between elevated and low-risk groups on several measures. Moreover, youth of parents in the elevated risk group were more likely to meet clinical cutoffs on pain catastrophizing and fear avoidance measures.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest the PRISM is useful in screening for parent distress and behaviors associated with elevated pain symptomatology in a pediatric acute musculoskeletal pain sample. The important next steps are to identify the ideal time for administering the PRISM and to examine the associations among PRISM scores and pain outcomes over time.

Mobile Subthreshold Exercise Program (MSTEP) for concussion: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Subthreshold exercise, defined as aerobic exercise below the level that causes symptoms, has been utilized as a treatment for youth with persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS), but there is currently little evidence to guide use. In addition, prior studies of exercise for PPCS have all required multiple in-person visits. We developed a virtual approach for delivering subthreshold exercise to youth with PPCS called the Mobile Subthreshold Exercise Program (MSTEP), and we have now been funded to conduct a large national randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test its efficacy for reducing concussive symptoms and improving health-related quality of life.

METHODS

This investigation is an RCT comparing MSTEP to an active control. We will recruit 200 adolescents 11-18 years old with postconcussive symptoms persisting for at least 1 week but less than 1 year. Youth will be randomized to receive either 6 weeks of subthreshold exercise (MSTEP) or a stretching condition (control). Youth and parents will complete surveys of concussive symptoms at baseline, weekly during the intervention, and at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcomes will be trajectory of concussive symptoms and health-related quality of life over the 6 months of the study. Secondary outcomes will include depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. We will also assess potential mediators of treatment effects including moderate-vigorous physical activity and fear avoidance of concussive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

This multisite RCT of MSTEP will provide vital information regarding the efficacy of a virtually delivered subthreshold exercise program for youth with PPCS, and insight regarding potential mediators of treatment effects, including objectively measured physical activity and fear avoidance of concussive symptoms.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04688255. Registered on December 29, 2020.

A multidisciplinary assessment of pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Pain is prevalent in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Unknowns regarding the biological drivers of pain complicate therapeutic targeting. We employed neuroimaging to define pain-related neurobiological features altered in JIA.

METHODS

16 male and female JIA patients (12.7 ± 2.8 years of age) on active treatment were enrolled, together with age- and sex-matched controls. Patients were assessed using physical examination, clinical questionnaires, musculoskeletal MRI, and structural neuroimaging. In addition, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected during the resting-state, hand-motor task performance, and cold stimulation of the hand and knee.

RESULTS

Patients with and without pain and with and without inflammation (joint and systemic) were evaluated.  Pain severity was associated with more physical stress and poorer cognitive function. Corrected for multiple comparisons, morphological analysis revealed decreased cortical thickness within the insula cortex and a negative correlation between caudate nucleus volume and pain severity. Functional neuroimaging findings suggested alteration within neurocircuitry structures regulating emotional pain processing (anterior insula) in addition to the default-mode and sensorimotor networks.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with JIA may exhibit changes in neurobiological circuits related to pain. These preliminary findings suggest mechanisms by which pain could potentially become dissociated from detectable joint pathology and persist independently of inflammation or treatment status.

Longitudinal Impact of Parental Catastrophizing on Child Functional Disability in Pediatric Amplified Pain

Objective

Children with amplified musculoskeletal pain (AMPS) experience significant functional disability, with impairment in their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities of daily living. Parental factors play an important role in a child’s pain symptoms and treatment outcomes, with parental pain catastrophizing and protective behaviors linked to several maladaptive outcomes for children. Aims of the current study were to examine how parental pain catastrophizing, child pain catastrophizing, and parental protective behaviors longitudinally impacted functional disability for children with AMPS.

Methods

Archival data were examined from parent-child dyads presenting to a tertiary pain clinic for treatment of AMPS. Over 1 year, parents completed measures assessing the level of pain catastrophizing, common behavioral responses to child pain, and child functional disability. Children completed measures of pain catastrophizing and functional disability. Measures were collected at initial evaluation, 6-months, and 12-months. Latent growth models (LGM) were conducted to examine how to study variables longitudinally impacted the rate of change in child functional disability.

Results

Examining a comprehensive LGM of study variables, parental catastrophizing emerged as the sole contributing factor to slower improvement in functional disability.

Conclusions

The strong influence of parental pain catastrophizing on functional disability may relate to parents limiting behaviors that promote adaptive coping in children with pain. As such, parents who catastrophize may benefit from specific interventions to increase their use of adaptive behavioral responses, such as redirecting children to complete functional activities and encouraging the use of positive coping skills for pain-related distress.

The Co-occurrence of Pediatric Chronic Pain and Anxiety: A Theoretical Review of a Developmentally Informed Shared Vulnerability Model

The development and maintenance of pediatric chronic pain and anxiety are complex, underscoring the need to better understand the interactive forces contributing to their co-occurrence. The shared vulnerability model (SVM) was developed to explain the co-occurrence of chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. Although many core tenets have been well supported by pediatric research, the SVM has yet to be extended to pediatric pain populations. We propose a developmentally informed pediatric SVM for advancing our understanding of the co-occurrence of pediatric chronic pain and anxiety disorders. The proposed SVM postulates that youth at increased risk for the development of chronic pain and/or anxiety share predisposing vulnerabilities, including anxiety sensitivity, and that these shared vulnerabilities give rise to negative emotional responses (child and parent) in the context of stressful events. Consequences of fear and anxiety, including avoidance behavior, further contribute to the development of chronic pain, anxiety, and their co-occurrence. The parental, school, and peer contexts in which these problems develop and are maintained in youth are pertinent to integrate into a SVM, as pediatric chronic pain and anxiety disorders share several social-contextual risk and maintenance factors. We also highlight new areas of inquiry.

The Co-occurrence of Pediatric Chronic Pain and Depression: A Narrative Review and Conceptualization of Mutual Maintenance

OBJECTIVES

Internalizing mental health issues co-occur with pediatric chronic pain at high rates and are linked to worse pain and functioning. Although the field has prioritized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, little is known about co-occurring depression and chronic pain in youth, despite its high prevalence. The purpose of this narrative review was to examine the existing literature on the co-occurrence of pediatric chronic pain and depressive disorders and symptoms and propose a conceptual model of mutual maintenance to guide future research.

METHODS

The literature from both fields of pediatric pain and developmental psychology were searched to review the evidence for the co-occurrence of pediatric chronic pain and depression. Conceptual models of co-occurring mental health issues and chronic pain, as well as child depression, were reviewed. From both literatures, we provide evidence for a number of proposed child, parent, and neurobiological factors that may serve to mutually maintain both conditions over time. On the basis of this evidence, we propose a conceptual model of mutual maintenance and highlight several areas for future research in this area.

RESULTS

Evidence was found for the prevalence of depression in pediatric chronic pain as well as the co-occurrence of both conditions. The key mutually maintaining factors identified and proposed included neurobiological, intrapersonal (eg, cognitive biases, sleep disturbances, emotion regulation, and behavioral inactivation), and interpersonal (eg, parent mental health and pain, genes, and parenting) factors.

DISCUSSION

Given the dearth of research on mutual maintenance in this area, this review and conceptual model could drive future research in this area. We argue for the development of tailored treatments for this unique population of youth to improve outcomes.

Longitudinal Impact of Parent Factors in Adolescents With Migraine and Tension-Type Headache

OBJECTIVE

To examine longitudinal associations between parent factors (parent headache frequency and disability, protective parenting behaviors, parent catastrophizing) with adolescent headache-related disability and headache frequency over 6 months.

BACKGROUND

Theoretical models propose bidirectional, longitudinal relationships between parent factors and adolescent headache. Few studies have examined this using prospective study designs.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants were a cohort of 239 youth ages 11-17 years with recurrent migraine (with and without aura; chronic migraine) or tension-type headache (episodic and chronic) and their parents recruited from a pediatric neurology clinic and the community who completed assessments at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

After controlling for demographic and clinical covariates, we found that every point increase in baseline protective parenting behavior corresponded with a 2.19-point increase in adolescent headache frequency at follow-up (P = .026, 95% CI [0.27, 4.10]). Similarly, every point increase in baseline parent catastrophizing corresponded with a 0.93-point increase in adolescent headache-related disability (P = .029, 95% CI [0.09, 1.77]) and a .13-point increase in adolescent headache frequency (P = .042, 95% CI [0.01, 0.25]) at follow-up. We also found support for the reverse association, where every point increase in baseline adolescent headache-related disability predicted a 0.03-point increase in parent catastrophizing (P = .016, 95% CI [0.01, 0.05]) and a 0.02-point increase in protective parenting behavior (P = .009, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]) at follow-up. The remaining bidirectional, longitudinal associations tested between parent factors and adolescent headache were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that family-based psychological interventions targeting modifiable adolescent and parent factors may lead to improvements in adolescent headache-related disability and reductions in adolescent headache frequency.

Feasibility and Acceptance Testing of a Mobile Application Providing Psychosocial Support for Parents of Children and Adolescents With Chronic Pain: Results of a Nonrandomized Trial

Objective To conduct a single-arm pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a 30-day parent-focused mindfulness and psychosocial support mobile app intervention for parents of children with chronic pain. Methods Thirty parents completed the intervention, which included a mindfulness curriculum, peer support videos, and written psychoeducational content. Twelve healthcare providers also assessed the app and provided feedback. Feasibility was assessed by server-side documented usage on ≥50% of the days in the intervention period and completion of ≥70% of the mindfulness content. Parent and provider acceptance were assessed by ≥70% of participants rating each acceptance test question as ≥5 on a 7-point Likert scale. Parents completed measures of solicitousness, stress, mindful parenting, and resilience prior to and following the intervention. Results Feasibility results were mixed: parents completed mindfulness content on an average of 11.2 days during the intervention period, slightly under the pre-established criterion. However, parents completed an average of 72.1% of the content, which met feasibility criterion. Acceptance criteria were met for the majority of parent acceptance test questions and all of the provider acceptance test questions. Exploratory analyses of the psychosocial measures revealed significant decreases in parental solicitous behavior and perceived stress, and a significant increase in mindful parenting. Conclusions The current study extends the emerging body of research on mindfulness-based interventions for parents of children with chronic illness and suggests that it may be acceptable to deliver this content through a mobile device. Future research is needed to assess the intervention's efficacy compared to standard of care.

Parent Factors are Associated With Pain and Activity Limitations in Youth With Acute Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Biopsychosocial models emphasize the influence of parent/family factors on pediatric chronic pain. Little is known about how parent factors differ across the acute to chronic pain continuum, or contribute to youths' pain experience in the acute pain period. The purpose of the study was to describe parent factors in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain (n=84) compared with youth with chronic pain (n=60) and youth without pain (n=61). Further, within the acute pain sample, we tested parent factors as predictors of child pain characteristics, as well as the moderating role of child sex on associations.

METHODS

Participants were 205 youth (age, 10 to 17) and one biological parent per child. Children reported on their own pain and activity limitations. Parents reported on their own chronic pain, somatization, and protective pain responses.

RESULTS

Parents of youth with acute pain had higher prevalence of chronic pain and greater somatization than parents of youth without pain. Parents of youth with acute and chronic pain did not differ. Linear regressions within the acute pain sample revealed presence of parent chronic pain and protective behavior were associated with child pain. Moreover, parent somatization was associated with child activity limitations. Within the acute pain sample, associations between parent protectiveness and child pain were moderated by child sex, with relationships stronger for female children.

DISCUSSION

Findings highlight the importance of parent factors on pain experiences of youth with acute musculoskeletal pain. Future longitudinal research can elucidate temporal associations that underlie how parent factors may impact transition from acute to chronic pain.

Parent Responses to Their Child's Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Measures

Objective

Parent responses can have a major impact on their child’s pain. The purpose of this systematic review is to (a) identify and describe measures assessing pain-related cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses in parents of children with chronic pain and (b) meta-analyze reported correlations between parent constructs and child outcomes (i.e., pain intensity, functional disability, and school functioning). Prospero protocol registration ID: CRD42019125496.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of studies including a measure of parent/caregiver responses to their child’s chronic pain. Study characteristics and correlations between parent measures and child outcomes were extracted. Data were summarized and meta-analyzed.

Results

Seventy-nine met inclusion criteria using 18 different measures of cognitive/affective (n = 3), behavioral (n = 5), and multidimensional responses (n = 10). Measures were used a median of three times (range 1–48), predominantly completed by mothers (88%), and primarily in mixed pain samples. Psychometrics of measures were generally adequate. Meta-analyses were based on 42 papers across five measures. Results showed that each of the cognitive, affective, and behavioral parent constructs we examined was significantly associated with pain-related functional disability. A small number of measures assessing parent cognitions and affective functioning were associated with higher child pain intensity; however, the majority were not.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrate that there is a wealth of measures available, with adequate reliability overall but a lack of psychometrics on temporal stability. Synthesizing data across studies revealed small effects between parent responses and child functioning, and even smaller and/or absent effects on child pain intensity.

Maternal Protective Parenting Accounts for the Relationship Between Pain Behaviors and Functional Disability in Adolescents

INTRODUCTION

A variety of factors influence parent responses to pain behaviors they observe in their adolescents with chronic pain. Certain parental responses to pain, such as attention or overprotection, can adversely impact adolescent adaptive functioning and correspond to poor clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

It was hypothesized that the relationship between adolescent pain behaviors and functional disability was mediated by maladaptive parenting (protective, monitoring, solicitousness) responses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants were 303 adolescents and their mothers presenting to a pain clinic. Adolescents completed measures of functional disability and pain intensity; mothers completed measures assessing adolescent pain behaviors, their own catastrophizing about their adolescent's pain, and responses to pain. A path model tested the direct and indirect associations between pain behaviors and disability via 3 parenting responses, controlling for average pain intensity and parent pain catastrophizing.

RESULTS

Greater pain behavior was associated with increased protective responses (α path, P<0.001); greater protective behavior was associated with increased disability (β path, P=0.002). Including parenting responses in the model, the path between pain behaviors and disability remained significant (c' path, P<0.001). The indirect path between pain behaviors and disability via parenting responses was significant for protective responses (P<0.02), controlling for pain intensity and parent pain catastrophizing. The indirect effect of protective responses explained 18% of the variance between pain behaviors and disability.

DISCUSSION

Observing adolescent pain behaviors may prompt parents to engage in increased protective behavior that negatively impacts adolescents' functioning, even after controlling for the effects of parental pain catastrophizing.

Risk and Resilience in Pediatric Pain: The Roles of Parent and Adolescent Catastrophizing and Acceptance

OBJECTIVES

Both pediatric and parent pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance are key factors associated with pediatric pain outcomes; however, the interactive effects of these factors within the parent-child dyad have yet to be tested. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) the mediating role of child catastrophizing between parent catastrophizing and child outcomes (pain interference and mobility), (2) the mediating role of child acceptance between parent acceptance and child outcomes, and (3) whether child acceptance buffers the relation between parent catastrophizing and child catastrophizing, which in turn impacts child outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 324 youth with chronic pain ages 10 to 17 years (mean age=14.72, [SD=2.12]; 73.1% female; 59% Caucasian) and their parents were collected. Participants completed measures assessing pediatric Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) domains (mobility and pain interference), pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and child pain intensity. Mediation was conducted via 1000-draw bootstrap-adjusted analyses in Mplus.

RESULTS

Parent pain catastrophizing was indirectly associated with child pain interference via child catastrophizing but was not associated with mobility difficulties in the mediation model. Parent pain acceptance was indirectly associated with both child pain interference and mobility via child acceptance. We did not find evidence of child acceptance-buffering parent and child pain catastrophizing.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this study highlight the need for caregiver involvement in multidisciplinary treatments to mitigate risk and enhance resilience in youth with chronic pain.

Graded exposure treatment for adolescents with chronic pain (GET Living): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial enhanced with single case experimental design

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in adolescence is a significant public health concern with 3-5% of adolescents suffering from significant pain-related disability. Pain-related fear and avoidance of activities has been found to have a significant influence on pain outcomes in children and adolescents and is a risk factor for less favorable response to treatment. To address this need, we developed graded exposure treatment for youth with chronic pain (GET Living). We describe the rationale, design, and implementation of a two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) enhanced with single-case experimental design (SCED) methodology with a sample of 74 adolescents with chronic musculosketal pain and their parent caregivers. GET Living includes education, behavioral exposures, and parent intervention jointly delivered by pain psychology and physical therapy providers. The multidisciplinary pain management control group includes pain psychology delivered education and pain self-management skills training (e.g., relaxation, cognitive skills) and separate physical therapy. Assessments include brief daily diaries (baseline to discharge, 7-days at 3-month and 6-month follow-up), comprehensive in-person evaluations at baseline and discharge, and questionnaire across all time points (baseline, discharge, 3-month and 6-month follow-up). Primary outcome is pain-related fear avoidance. Secondary outcome is functional disability. We also outline all additional outcomes, exploratory outcomes, covariates, and implementation measures. The objective is to offer a mechanism-based, targeted intervention to youth with musculoskeletal pain to enhance likelihood of return to function.

Sociodemographic and Environmental Factors are Associated with Adolescents' Pain and Longitudinal Health Outcomes

Research in adult populations indicates that several sociodemographic and environmental variables increase risk for pain and poor outcomes. There is little research exploring the impact of household income, health insurance coverage, barriers to health care, neighborhood and school safety, violence experienced, and neighborhood isolation on pediatric chronic pain. Data from the Add Health Study, a longitudinal examination of a nationally-representative adolescent sample were analyzed. The relationships between demographic variables, risk factors, chronic pain, and long-term health outcomes were examined. Adolescents with chronic pain had lower income, more health care barriers, greater safety concerns, and experienced more violence compared to those without pain. In a model together, female sex, White race/ethnicity, and greater health care barriers, safety concerns, and violence exposure conferred significant risk for chronic pain. Additional analyses revealed nuances in the strength of risk factors between racial/ethnic groups. Systemic health care barriers were significantly associated with chronic pain and may delay symptom alleviation and return to functioning. Considering access to care is necessary in prevention efforts. Among adolescents with chronic pain, greater safety concerns predicted poor mental health outcomes, particularly for White females. The cumulative stress of environmental concerns, such as safety, and managing chronic pain may worsen functioning. PERSPECTIVE: Adolescents with chronic pain had lower income, and more health care barriers, safety concerns, and violence exposure compared to those without chronic pain. Access to care is a significant problem in youth with chronic pain. The relationships between race/ethnicity, risk factors, and health outcomes are complex and require additional research.

The (Parental) Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: A Multifactorial Model of Parent Factors in Pediatric Chronic Pain

Parents play a critical role in children's experience of, and recovery from, chronic pain. Although several parental factors have been linked to child pain and functioning, these factors are typically examined in isolation or as moderators or mediators. Structural equation modeling affords the opportunity to examine the extent to which parental factors are interrelated, and if there are differential associations among parental factors and child outcomes. Based on extant literature, a unified model of parental factors, including chronic pain status, physical functioning, responses to child pain, and psychological factors, and their effect on child pain and functioning, was conceptualized. This model was evaluated using structural equation modeling based on data from 146 dyads recruited from a multidisciplinary pain clinic. Modifications to model iterations were made based on theoretical and statistical justification. The final model revealed associations among all parental factors, with significant loadings on child pain and functioning. Findings indicated the conceptual model was supported, with the exception of parent responses to child pain. Findings support the inclusion of parent chronic pain status and physical and psychological functioning as part of a comprehensive assessment of youth with chronic pain and may inform new parental intervention targets to improve child outcomes. PERSPECTIVE: A unified structural equation model indicated parents' own chronic pain characteristics and physical and psychological functioning represent important factors associated with child pain and functioning. Current family-based interventions that often primarily focus on parent responses to child pain may need to be adapted to more comprehensively address parental factors.

Mobile health intervention for self-management of adolescent chronic pain (WebMAP mobile): Protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 5-8% of children report severe chronic pain and disability. Although evidence supports pain-self management as effective for reducing pain and disability, most youth do not have access to psychological intervention. Our prior studies demonstrate that an existing internet-delivered pain self-management program (WebMAP) can reduce barriers to care, is feasible, acceptable, and is effective in reducing pain-related disability in youth with chronic pain. The current trial seeks to: 1) determine the effectiveness of a mobile app version of WebMAP for improving patient pain-related outcomes, and 2) evaluate a novel implementation strategy to maximize the public health impact of the intervention including the determination of adoption, reach, and sustainability of WebMAP in specialty clinics serving children with chronic pain in the United States.

METHODS

This hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized controlled trial employs a stepped wedge design in which the WebMAP mobile intervention is sequentially implemented in 8 specialty pain clinics following a usual care period. This trial aims to enroll a minimum of 120 youth (ages 10-17) who have chronic pain. Outcome analyses will determine effectiveness of treatment on adolescent pain-related outcomes as well as public health impact via reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial examines an innovative approach to evaluate a technology-delivered pain self-management program for youth with chronic pain. Findings are expected to yield a strategic approach for delivering a digital pain management program for youth with chronic pain that can be sustained in clinical settings. Clinical Trial Registration #: NCT03332563.

Parent chronic pain and mental health symptoms impact responses to children's pain

Background

Chronic pain is a prevalent health condition associated with parenting difficulties. Pain-specific parenting, such as protectiveness and catastrophizing, may contribute to chronic pain in children. Additional work is needed to test predictors of pain-specific parenting. Aim: The current study tested parent mental health symptoms as predictors of protectiveness and catastrophizing about child pain and whether comorbid pain and mental health symptoms exacerbate risk for problematic responses to children's pain.

Methods

Parents with chronic pain (n = 62) and parents without chronic pain (n = 80) completed self-report questionnaires assessing pain characteristics, mental health symptoms, and pain-specific parenting responses.

Results

Results indicated significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and somatization in parents with chronic pain. Depression predicted protectiveness and catastrophizing over and above chronic pain status. Chronic pain status moderated the association between increased anxiety and greater catastrophizing about child pain.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the potential impact of mental health symptoms on pain-specific parenting even when accounting for chronic pain status.

Chronic Pain and Obesity Within a Pediatric Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic Setting: A Preliminary Examination of Current Relationships and Future Directions

OBJECTIVES

Pediatric obesity and chronic pain are 2 of the most significant public health crises affecting youth today. Despite the high number of youth experiencing both chronic pain and obesity, little research has been done examining their relationship. This study aims to both replicate and extend this research base.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 99 patients presenting for evaluation in a pediatric pain clinic was conducted. Demographic information, including patient weight status, and self-report measures completed by both patients and their parents, including the Pain Frequency-Severity-Duration scale, the Functional Disability Inventory, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale were examined.

RESULTS

Abdominal pain was the most frequently reported primary pain diagnosis category, with headache, diffuse musculoskeletal, localized musculoskeletal, and back pain categories reported from greatest to least frequency. Results show that 29% of our sample was obese. Age was related to weight status such that older children were more likely to have a higher body mass index. Among school-aged children, a higher body mass index percentile was associated with greater parent-reported pain catastrophizing. Obese youth had higher parent-reported Functional Disability Inventory scores than those in the normal weight group. Post hoc comparisons identified that this finding was only significant for girls. Further, obese youth were more likely to have a longer pain duration than those classified as normal weight.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study add to the growing literature regarding the importance of taking weight status into account when intervening with youth with chronic pain.

The ‘work of childhood’: understanding school functioning in youth with chronic pain

School is often cited as the ‘work of childhood’ and serves as an important site for child and adolescent development. Frequent school absences in children and adolescents with chronic pain are well documented; however, variables that may explain school impairment are not understood. The potential consequences of school impairment are extensive, as these children and adolescents are at great risk for achieving poor grades and sometimes require full-time homebound instruction. This, in turn, can have adverse effects on occupational and social functioning well into adulthood. The present review provides a summary of selected studies that have investigated why children and adolescents with chronic pain may experience disruptions in school functioning. A conceptual model of school functioning is presented to summarize factors accumulated to date and to guide future investigations.

Feeling the Pressure to Be Perfect: Effect on Pain-Related Distress and Dysfunction in Youth With Chronic Pain

Despite clinical observation of perfectionistic tendencies among youth with chronic pain and their parents as well as established relationships between perfectionism and functional somatic symptoms in adults and youth, no research in the pediatric pain literature has examined perfectionism. This study explored the role of various types of youth and parent perfectionism on youth and parent pain-related distress and behavior and youth pain-related dysfunction. At admission, 239 parent-child pairs from outpatient and day-treatment rehabilitation settings completed several questionnaires assessing perfectionism, pain-related distress, and pain-related dysfunction. Bivariate correlations indicated that socially prescribed perfectionism in youth and parents was linked to youth pain duration, parent and youth pain-related distress and behavior, and youth somatization. Indirect relations showed that youth socially prescribed perfectionism was the only form of perfectionism directly associated with youth somatization whereas all forms of youth perfectionism were indirectly associated with somatization and functional disability through increases in youth pain-related fear and catastrophizing. Additionally, socially prescribed perfectionism was the only type of parent perfectionism linked to youth pain-related dysfunction (somatization, functional disability) through its association with youth pain-related fear. Findings support clinical observations that parent and youth perfectionism is a psychosocial factor that should be targeted in pediatric chronic pain treatment.

PERSPECTIVE

Perfectionism in youth with chronic pain and their parents was indirectly linked to youth pain-related dysfunction through its effect on youth pain-related catastrophizing and fear. Findings support clinical observations that parent and youth perfectionism is a psychosocial factor that should be targeted in pediatric chronic pain treatment.

Multi-Family Pediatric Pain Group Therapy: Capturing Acceptance and Cultivating Change

Behavioral health interventions for pediatric chronic pain include cognitive-behavioral (CBT), acceptance and commitment (ACT), and family-based therapies, though literature regarding multi-family therapy (MFT) is sparse. This investigation examined the utility and outcomes of the Courage to Act with Pain: Teens Identifying Values, Acceptance, and Treatment Effects (CAPTIVATE) program, which included all three modalities (CBT, ACT, MFT) for youth with chronic pain and their parents. Program utility, engagement, and satisfaction were evaluated via quantitative and qualitative feedback. Pain-specific psychological, behavioral, and interpersonal processes were examined along with outcomes related to disability, quality of life, pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Participants indicated that CAPTIVATE was constructive, engaging, and helpful for social and family systems. Clinical and statistical improvements with large effect sizes were captured for pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and protective parenting but not family functioning. Similar effects were found for functional disability, pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Given the importance of targeting multiple systems in the management of pediatric chronic pain, preliminary findings suggest a potential new group-based treatment option for youth and families. Next steps involve evaluating the differential effect of the program over treatment as usual, as well as specific CBT, ACT, and MFT components and processes that may affect outcomes.

Parental Perceptions of Pediatric Pain and POTS-Related Disability

Adolescents with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) often have pain and functional impairment. This study evaluated how parental attributions of children's symptoms relate to child functional impairment. Adolescents with chronic pain and clinical symptoms suggestive of autonomic dysfunction (fatigue, dizziness, nausea) that attended a multidisciplinary chronic pain clinic completed measures of depression, anxiety, and functioning (n = 141). Parents of 114 of these patients completed the Parent Pain Attribution Questionnaire (PPAQ), a measure indicating the extent they believe physical and psychosocial factors account for their child's health condition. Patients were retrospectively grouped as to whether or not they had significant POTS on tilt table testing (n = 37). Greater parental attribution to physical causes was associated with increased levels of functional disability whether patients had POTS ( r = 0.45, P = .006) or not ( r = 0.25, P = .03). These results suggest that providers should advocate a more comprehensive family-oriented rehabilitative approach to treatment.

Development of an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program: The First 1000 Consecutive Patients

Objective

To describe the development of a clinically and financially successful interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program at a large tertiary academic medical center and present demographic and clinical information on the first 1000 patients.

Patients and Methods

All patients who were consecutively admitted to this program between October 1, 2008, and March 31, 2015 were included in this review. The patients ranged in age from 9 to 24 years. The program is a 3-week, hospital-based outpatient treatment program that requires substantial parental involvement. At admission and discharge, patients completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale for Children, the Functional Disability Inventory, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children. Opioid use was also assessed.

Results

At admission, patients reported substantial pain-associated disability and depressive symptoms; they had elevated pain catastrophizing scores, and 16% were taking opioids. Primary sites/types of pain included head, abdomen, and generalized. Functional disability scores decreased significantly, from 27 to 9 after the program (P<.001). Depression scale scores improved from 27 to 14 (P<.001). Pain catastrophizing scores decreased significantly, from 26 to 14 (P<.001), at discharge from the program. All but 4 patients successfully tapered off of all opioid use by the conclusion of the program.

Conclusion

Participation in a multidisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program can be successful, with significant decreases in disability, depression symptoms, and pain catastrophizing, as well as discontinuation of opioid use.

Parent and Child Report of Pain and Fatigue in JIA: Does Disagreement between Parent and Child Predict Functional Outcomes?

While previous research in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has identified discrepancy between parent and child perception of disease-related symptoms such as pain, the significance and impact of this disagreement has not been characterized. We examined the extent to which parent-child discordance in JIA symptom ratings are associated with child functional outcomes. Linear regression and mixed effects models were used to test the effects of discrepancy in pain and fatigue ratings on functional outcomes in 65 dyads, consisting of youth with JIA and one parent. Results suggested that children reported increased activity limitations and negative mood when parent and child pain ratings were discrepant, with parent rated child pain much lower. Greater discrepancy in fatigue ratings was also associated with more negative mood, whereas children whose parent rated child fatigue as moderately lower than the child experienced decreased activity limitations relative to dyads who agreed closely on fatigue level. Implications of these results for the quality of life and treatment of children with JIA are discussed.

Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescents with chronic pain and their parents: a randomized controlled multicenter trial

Internet-delivered interventions are emerging as a strategy to address barriers to care for individuals with chronic pain. This is the first large multicenter randomized controlled trial of Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for pediatric chronic pain. Participants included were 273 adolescents (205 females and 68 males), aged 11 to 17 years with mixed chronic pain conditions and their parents, who were randomly assigned in a parallel-group design to Internet-delivered CBT (n = 138) or Internet-delivered Education (n = 135). Assessments were completed before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. All data collection and procedures took place online. The primary analysis used linear growth models. Results demonstrated significantly greater reduction on the primary outcome of activity limitations from baseline to 6-month follow-up for Internet CBT compared with Internet education (b = -1.13, P = 0.03). On secondary outcomes, significant beneficial effects of Internet CBT were found on sleep quality (b = 0.14, P = 0.04), on reducing parent miscarried helping (b = -2.66, P = 0.007) and protective behaviors (b = -0.19, P = 0.001), and on treatment satisfaction (P values < 0.05). On exploratory outcomes, benefits of Internet CBT were found for parent-perceived impact (ie, reductions in depression, anxiety, self-blame about their adolescent's pain, and improvement in parent behavioral responses to pain). In conclusion, our Internet-delivered CBT intervention produced a number of beneficial effects on adolescent and parent outcomes, and could ultimately lead to wide dissemination of evidence-based psychological pain treatment for youth and their families.

Study protocol for a multicentre randomized controlled trial on effectiveness of an outpatient multimodal rehabilitation program for adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain (2B Active)

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) in adolescents can influence functioning and well-being, and has negative consequences for families and society as well. According to the Fear Avoidance Model, fear of movement and pain catastrophizing can influence the occurrence and maintenance of chronic pain complaints and functional disability. Primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal rehabilitation program in reducing functional disability for adolescents with CMP compared with care as usual.

Methods/Design

Pragmatic multicentre parallel group randomized controlled trial. Randomization by minimization (ratio 1:1) and treatment allocation will be concealed, computer-generated and performed by an independent organization. After randomization, data collection and researchers remain blinded. Inclusion of 124 adolescents and their parents is intended. This sample size is based on a 25 % difference in group mean on the primary outcome, with α = 5 %, β = 80 % and expected 15 % loss to follow up. Study population are adolescents (12–21 years) with CMP with an indication for outpatient rehabilitation treatment in the Netherlands.

The intervention group receives a Multimodal Rehabilitation Program (MRP), a multidisciplinary outpatient individual rehabilitation program. MRP consists of 2 different treatment approaches: A graded exposure module or a combination module of graded exposure and physical training. Selection of a module depends on the needs of the patient. To both modules a parent module is added. The control group receives care as usual, which is the care currently provided in Dutch rehabilitation centres. Treatment duration varies between 7 and 16 weeks, depending on treatment allocation.

Self-reported measurements are at baseline, and at 2, 4, 10 and 12 months after start of treatment. Intention to treat analysis for between group differences on all outcome variables will be performed. Primary outcome is functional disability (Functional Disability Inventory). Secondary outcome variables are fear of pain, catastrophizing, perceived harmfulness, pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. Total direct and indirect costs and health related quality of life will be measured. Process evaluation focuses on protocol adherence, patient centeredness and treatment expectations.

Discussion

A pragmatic approach was chosen, to ensure that results obtained are most applicable to daily practice.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02181725 (7 February 2014).

Funded by Fonds Nuts Ohra, Stichting Vooruit, and Adelante.