Sleep and Pain in Pediatric Illness: A Conceptual Review

Adolescent girls' musculoskeletal pain is more affected by insomnia than boys', and through different psychological pathways

Prior research has established that insomnia is predctive of pain in adolescents and that psychological mechanisms have a crucial role in this relationship. Adolescent girls report more insomnia and pain than boys, yet little is known of gender differences in how insomnia influences pain. This study assessed gender differences in levels and trajectories of insomnia and pain during adolescence, and whether rumination and negative mood mediated the effect of insomnia on pain. Longitudinal survey data measured on 5 annual occasions (Nbaseline = 2,767) were analyzed in a multigroup longitudinal serial mediation model. A final model was generated with insomnia as the predictor, rumination and depressed mood as mediators, pain as the outcome, and gender the grouping variable. The results showed that insomnia predicted pain in adolescents, with an effect 3.5 times larger in girls than boys. Depressed mood was the main mediator in boys. In girls, rumination was the only significant mediator. There were significant gender differences in the effects of insomnia on rumination and pain, and in the effects of rumination on depressed mood and pain, with stronger effects in girls. These results highlight that girls and boys should be considered separately when studying the relationship between insomnia and pain. PERSPECTIVE: Levels of insomnia and pain are progressively higher in adolescent girls than boys, across adolescence. The predictive strength of insomnia symptoms for future pain is 3.5 times greater in girls, with distinct gender-specific underlying pathways: rumination partially mediates this effect in girls, while depressed mood does so in boys.

Temporal Daily Relationships Between Sleep and Pain in Adolescents With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of pain. This study aimed to describe the temporal daily relationships between sleep and pain in adolescents with SLE.

METHOD

Twenty-three adolescents with SLE recruited from a pediatric hospital wore actigraphy and completed diaries. Generalized estimating equation models were used.

RESULTS

On average, evening pain negatively predicted subsequent sleep quality that night, and, on average, sleep quality negatively predicted morning pain. Shorter total sleep time significantly predicted higher morning pain (95% confidence intervals [CI], -0.38 to -0.03, p = .02), whereas sleep efficiency and sleep quality were not significantly associated with morning pain (95% CI, -0.03 to 0.03; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.06, respectively). Subsequent evening pain did not predict daily nighttime sleep DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that sleep is a target for pain interventions to include among adolescents with SLE.

Sleep disturbances, altered brain microstructure and chronic headache in youth

Chronic headache (persistent or recurrent headache for 3-months or longer) is highly prevalent among youth. While sleep disturbances have been associated with headache, their inter-relationship with brain connectivity remains unknown. This observational study examined whether self-report and actigraphy measures of sleep were associated with alterations to white matter tracts (i.e., uncinate fasciculus and cingulum) in youth with chronic headache versus healthy controls. Thirty youth aged 10-18 years with chronic headache and thirty controls underwent an MRI. Diffusion tensor images were obtained and mean fractional anisotropy values of the cingulum and uncinate were extracted. One-week prior to their MRI, youth wore an actigraph to obtain sleep duration, wake after sleep onset and sleep efficiency measures. Moreover, they completed questionnaires regarding their sleep quality and pain symptomatology. Linear regression was applied to examine the relationships between sleep (self-report and actigraphy), fractional anisotropy, and number of headache days per month. Self-report and actigraphy measures of sleep did not differ between patients and controls. However, poorer self-reported sleep quality was associated with lower fractional anisotropy values in the left uncinate (P = 0.05). Lower left uncinate fractional anisotropy was related to increased headache frequency (P = 0.002) in youth with chronic headache. Therefore, alterations to connectivity may be associated with the relationship between altered perceptions of sleep and headache chronicity.

Comparison of actigraphy with a sleep protocol maintained by professional caregivers and questionnaire-based parental judgment in children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions

BACKGROUND

Actigraphy offers a promising way to objectively assess pediatric sleep. Aim of the study was investigating the extent to which actigraphy used in children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions is consistent with two other measures of sleep diagnostics.

METHODS

In this monocentric prospective study N = 26 children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions treated on a pediatric palliative care unit were assessed. For three consecutive nights they wore an actigraph; the 24-hours sleep protocol documented by nurses and the Sleep Screening for Children and Adolescents with Complex Chronic Conditions (SCAC) answered by parents were analyzed. Patient characteristics and the parameters sleep onset, sleep offset, wake after sleep onset (WASO), number of wake phases, total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency (SE) were descriptively examined. Percentage bend correlations evaluated the three measures' concordance.

RESULTS

Descriptively, and except for the number of waking episodes, the different measures' estimations were comparable. Significant correlations existed between actigraphy and the sleep protocol for sleep onset (r = 0.83, p = < 0.001) and sleep offset (r = 0.89, p = < 0.001), between actigraphy and SCAC for SE (r = 0.59, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Agreement of actigraphy with the focused sleep measures seems to be basically given but to varying degrees depending on the considered parameters.

Increases in Sleep Difficulties and Psychological Symptoms are Associated With the Increase of Chronic Back Pain in Adolescents: The HBSC Study 2002 to 2018

Cross-national research using data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey showed an increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain from 2002 to 2014. However, it is unknown if this trend has persisted beyond 2014. The aims of this study were to 1) determine if the prevalence of chronic back pain in girls and boys aged 11, 13, and 15 continued to increase from 2014 to 2018 and if this was the case, 2) examine whether this increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain between 2002 and 2018 was explained indirectly by increases in sleep difficulties and psychological symptoms. Data from 7,89,596 adolescents retrieved from 5 waves of the HBSC survey conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 in 32 countries/regions were used. Logistic regressions and path analyses were conducted. Results showed an overall increase of .5% in the prevalence of chronic back pain between 2014 and 2018, ranging from .4% for 15-year-old girls to 1.3% for 11-year-old boys, indicating a continued overall increase in chronic back pain in adolescents beyond 2014. For 13-year-old girls and for 15-year-old girls and boys, the increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain between 2002 and 2018 was partially mediated by increases in sleep difficulties, which in turn were associated with increases in psychological symptoms. The findings provide important information that may aid stakeholders in enhancing public health initiatives to prevent or reduce the increasing trend in the prevalence of chronic back pain in adolescents. PERSPECTIVE: This study shows that chronic back pain prevalence continues to increase among adolescents, with sleep difficulties and psychological symptoms contributing significantly to this trend. The findings provide insights that may inform strategies to prevent or reduce the increasing trend of chronic back pain in adolescents.

The clinical and sleep manifestations in children with FOXG1 syndrome

FOXG1 syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with severe cognitive dysfunction, autistic behavior, and early-onset hyperkinetic movement disorders. Patients have also been reported to experience sleep disturbances. However, these findings are mainly based on subjective caregivers' reports, and limited by small case numbers. Moreover, no studies using objective evaluation tools, such as actigraphy, have been reported. We analyzed the clinical and sleep manifestations of children with FOXG1 syndrome registered in the International FOXG1 Research Foundation registry database. A total of 258 individuals with FOXG1 syndrome were included in this research. 132 (51.16%) had sleep disturbances. The more impaired of language acquisitions (absence of speech, OR: 3.99, 95%CI = 1.69-9.42, p = 0.002), hyperkinetic movement disorders (OR: 2.64, 95%CI = 1.34-5.20 p = 0.005) and feeding difficulties (OR: 2.81, 95% CI = 1.52-5.19, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with an increase in odds of sleep disturbance after adjusting for age, sex, and antiepileptic drugs. We also performed sleep studies on six individuals with FOXG1 syndrome using The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), and 7-day data from Actiwatch. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and 7-day data from Actiwatch were also used to evaluate the sleep condition of their parents. The CSHQ scores revealed bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, night-waking, and parasomnia. Sleep-wake transition disorders and disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep were also suggested by the SDSC scores. The children's actigraphy revealed short sleep durations, impaired sleep efficiency, longer wake after sleep onset, and frequent night-waking. All caregivers reported significantly higher PSQI scores, mildly declined sleep efficiency, and shorter total sleep duration. Sleep disturbances, especially in initiating and maintaining sleep, are common in individuals with FOXG1 syndrome and their caregivers. Sleep disorders in patients with FOXG1 syndrome and their caregivers should be investigated.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Chronic Respiratory Infections: A Narrative Review in Adult and Pediatric Population

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) comprises different diseases characterized by abnormal respiratory patterns during sleep including obstructive sleep apnea. SDB prevalence and impact in patients with chronic respiratory infections have been only marginally studied. The purpose of this narrative review is to report the prevalence and impact of SDB in chronic respiratory infections, including cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis and mycobacterial infections, and explore the possible pathophysiological mechanisms. Common pathophysiological mechanisms, underlying SDB onset in all chronic respiratory infections, include inflammation, which plays a central role, chronic nocturnal cough and pain, excessive production of mucous plugs, presence of obstructive and/or restrictive ventilatory impairment, upper airways involvement, and comorbidities, such as alteration of nutritional status. SDB may affect about 50% of patients with bronchiectasis. The severity of the disease, e.g., patients colonized with P. aeruginosa and frequent exacerbators, as well as comorbidities, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and primary ciliary dyskinesia, may impact SDB onset. SDB may also frequently complicate the clinical course of both children and adults with CF, impacting the quality of life and disease prognosis, suggesting that their routine assessment should be incorporated into the clinical evaluation of patients from the first stages of the disease regardless of suggestive symptoms, in order to avoid late diagnosis. Finally, although the prevalence of SDB in patients with mycobacterial infections is uncertain, extrapulmonary manifestations, particularly nasopharyngeal locations, and concomitant symptoms, such as body pain and depression, may act as atypical predisposing factors for their development.

The complexities of the sleep-pain relationship in adolescents: A critical review

Chronic pain is a common and disabling condition in adolescents. Disturbed sleep is associated with many detrimental effects in adolescents with acute and chronic pain. While sleep and pain are known to share a reciprocal relationship, the sleep-pain relationship in adolescence warrants further contextualization within normally occurring maturation of several biopsychological processes. Since sleep and pain disorders begin to emerge in early adolescence and are often comorbid, there is a need for a comprehensive picture of their interrelation especially related to temporal relationships and mechanistic drivers. While existing reviews provide a solid foundation for the interaction between disturbed sleep and pain in youth, we will extend this review by highlighting current methodological challenges for both sleep and pain assessments, exploring the recent evidence for directionality in the sleep-pain relationship, reviewing potential mechanisms and factors underlying the relationship, and providing direction for future investigations. We will also highlight the potential role of digital technologies in advancing the understanding of the sleep and pain relationship. Ultimately, we anticipate this information will facilitate further research and inform the management of pain and poor sleep, which will ultimately improve the quality of life in adolescents and reduce the risk of pain persisting into adulthood.

Interventions Associated With Increased Nighttime Room Entries in General Medical Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Sleep is vital to recovery from illness, yet it is frequently interrupted in the hospital setting. Existing literature relying on survey data identifies vitals, medications, and pulse oximetry as major disruptors to sleep. This study was designed to assess the degree to which these candidate sleep disruptors are associated with objective room entries.

METHODS

Room entry sensors were placed on doors to 18 rooms on acute medical-surgical units at a tertiary academic center. The number of entries into rooms between 10 Pm and 6 Am were logged on patients admitted to hospital medicine services from March 2021 through February 2022. Medical records were reviewed to extract orders for vital sign frequency, medication timing, continuous pulse oximetry, and intravenous fluid use overnight. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate associations.

RESULTS

Room entry data were collected for 112 admissions and 192 patient-nights. There was an average of 7.8 room entries per patient-night. After adjustments for the other variables and for patients represented in multiple nights, vitals ordered every 4 hours were associated with a 1.3-fold increase in room entries (95% confidence interval 1.0-1.5; P = .013), as were medications scheduled during overnight hours (1.3; 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.5; P = .016). There was no association between room entries and continuous pulse oximetry use. After adjustment, there was also no association with administration of intravenous fluids.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitals ordered every 4 hours and medications scheduled during sleep hours are independently associated with increased room entries and may be reasonable initial targets for quality improvement interventions designed to minimize nighttime disruptions.

Applicability of Actigraphy for Assessing Sleep Behaviour in Children with Palliative Care Needs Benchmarked against the Gold Standard Polysomnography

In children with life-limiting conditions and severe neurological impairment receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC), the degree to which actigraphy generates meaningful sleep data is uncertain. Benchmarked against the gold standard polysomnography (PSG), the applicability of actigraphy in this complex population was to be assessed. An actigraph was placed on N = 8 PPC patients during one-night polysomnography measurement in a pediatric tertiary care hospital's sleep laboratory. Patient characteristics, sleep phase data, and respiratory abnormalities are presented descriptively. Bland-Altman plots evaluated actigraphy's validity regarding sleep onset, sleep offset, wake after sleep onset (WASO), number of wake phases, total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency compared to PSG. PSG revealed that children spent most of their time in sleep stage 2 (46.6%) and most frequently showed central apnea (28.7%) and irregular hypopnea (14.5%). Bland-Altman plots showed that actigraphy and PSG gave similar findings for sleep onset, sleep offset, wake after sleep onset (WASO), total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency. Actigraphy slightly overestimated TST and sleep efficiency while underestimating all other parameters. Generally, the Actiwatch 2 low and medium sensitivity levels showed the best approximation to the PSG values. Actigraphy seems to be a promising method for detecting sleep problems in severely ill children.

Shedding Light on the Lifestyle and Participation of Portuguese Adolescents with Chronic Conditions—Data from the HBSC 2018 Study

Variables associated with lifestyle can constitute either risk or protective factors for the development and progression of chronic conditions (CC). This study intends to explore the differences between adolescents with and without CC and between adolescents whose school participation is affected/not affected by the existing CC with regard to variables related to lifestyle (i.e., sleep, physical activity, BMI, and leisure). In addition, it also intends to analyze the influence of these variables (i.e., CC and lifestyle) regarding the adolescents’ quality of life (QoL). This work is part of the Portuguese HBSC 2018 study. A total of 8215 adolescents participated (52.7% female), with an average age of 14.36 years (SD = 2.28). The results showed that the adolescents with CC and whose school attendance and participation are affected by their CC exhibit more sleep difficulties (i.e., they experience lower sleep quality and have a higher degree of sleepiness), higher BMI levels (i.e., higher values of overweight and obesity), less participation in leisure activities, and a lower perception of QoL. A higher perception of QoL is associated with school participation unaffected by the existing CC, sleeping well, a low level of sleepiness, a more frequent practice of physical activity, a lower BMI, and a greater involvement in leisure activities. Adolescent health and well-being are a prominent issue in terms of public policies, with behavior and lifestyle playing a significant role in this domain. This message needs to be reinforced in regard to families, educators, healthcare professionals, and public sector policies, particularly concerning students with CC.

Pediatric sleep and pain: etiologies, consequences, and clinical considerations

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To examine current evidence of the relationship between sleep and pain from the neonatal period through adolescence. This review serves as a critical review of the literature and of the needs for future research on pediatric sleep and pain.

METHODS

The PubMed online database was queried from January 1, 1960, to March 1, 2020, producing 149 articles applicable to pain and sleep in the pediatric population. Of those, 97 articles were cited in this review with the key articles including over 3800 participants.

RESULTS

The pediatric literature supports the relationship between poor sleep (both sleep efficiency and nighttime awakenings) and subsequent risk for pain, especially among children with chronic disease. The reverse effect of pain on sleep is not yet well delineated. The key moderating factors explored in the literature are pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, psychologic health, and the etiology of pain. There is evidence that both altered sleep and pain early in life impact neurodevelopment, as seen by changes in sleep structure in clinical studies and alterations in brain development in animal models.

CONCLUSIONS

The complicated relationship between sleep and pain is critically important during pediatric development when alterations to a normal sleep structure can have a lifelong impact. It is becoming clear that sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality exacerbate pain. Further research is needed into the complex alterations of sleep in chronic pain conditions as well as treatments to improve sleep in pediatric care.

CITATION

Morris EE, Howell MJ, Pickup E, Iber C, Wang SG. Pediatric sleep and pain: etiologies, consequences, and clinical considerations. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(9):2281-2289.

Potential Contributing Factors for Irritability of Unknown Origin in Pediatric Palliative Care

CONTEXT

In pediatric palliative care, irritability of unknown origin (IUO) in children with severe neurological impairment is a peculiarly complex and challenging symptom, yet its etiology remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

Presenting a structured IUO diagnostic and therapeutic approach developed in a specialized inpatient pediatric palliative care facility for identifying IUO's potential contributing factors (PCFs).

METHODS

Prospective observational study with N = 22 children showing IUO at admission to the inpatient pediatric palliative care facility. Analysis of patient records and participation in ward routine to identify and treat PCFs. Treatment outcome was assessed using a standardized protocol for tracking IUO at 24-hour intervals.

RESULTS

Altogether, 136 PCFs were identified (average 6.18 per child) with pain and psycho-social problems being the most common. Two hundred and twenty-two diagnostic measures were initiated of which 159 (71.6%) helped identify a PCF. The majority of PCFs were identified by basic diagnostics (93.7%). Inpatient length of stay and duration of IUO phases correlated significantly. Between baseline (days 3-5; timing at which inpatients experientially show regular behavior) and discharge, patients showed a significant reduction in average 24-hours IUO duration by 1 hour and 26 minutes (Wilcoxon test: Z = -3.29, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Results lead to a more thorough understanding of PCFs to IUO. Following a systematic approach such as the one presented, PCFs can be detected even by simple diagnostics. In addition to biological aspects, diagnostics and therapy should address psycho-social aspects of IUO.

Sleep in children with cystic fibrosis: More under the covers

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic multisystem disease with manifestations from birth. It involves the entire respiratory system, with increased cough, and recurrent pulmonary infections, and it also leads to intestinal malabsorption, all of which can have an impact on sleep. In this review, we summarize the available literature on the various sleep disturbances in children with CF. Sleep quality and sleep efficiency are often impaired in children with CF. They may be accompanied by symptoms associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and objective findings, such as nocturnal hypoxemia. Importantly, a strong association has been shown between SDB and the severity of lung disease, and some studies have reported a similar association for sleep quality. Further research is needed to better characterize the association of sleep disturbances with respiratory outcomes and the impact of treatment of sleep disorders on pulmonary status in children with CF.

A longitudinal study of bidirectional associations between frequent pain and insomnia symptoms in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain and insomnia symptoms are prevalent in adolescents. This study examined the prospective associations between pain and insomnia symptoms in a large sample of adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 7072 adolescents (mean age = 14.6 years) participated in a longitudinal study of behavior and health in Shandong, China. A baseline survey was conducted in November-December of 2015, and a follow-up survey was conducted one year later. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess headache, stomachache, other nonspecific pain, depression, substance use, and family environment. The Youth Self-Rating Insomnia Scale was used to measure insomnia symptoms.

RESULTS

At baseline and 1-year follow-up, frequent pain was reported by 8.4% and 7.8% of the sample, respectively; moderate to severe insomnia symptoms were reported by 15.2% and 14.8%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that frequent pain at baseline was significantly associated with increased odds of incident insomnia symptoms at 1-year follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23-2.34) while adjusting for adolescent and family covariates. On the other hand, insomnia symptoms at baseline were significantly associated with increased odds of incident frequent pain at 1-year follow-up (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.50-2.68). The 3 types of pain (ie, headache, stomachache, and other nonspecific pain) had similar associations with insomnia symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the associations between frequent pain and insomnia are bidirectional, independent of multiple adolescent and family covariates. These findings stress the importance of assessment and management of both pain and insomnia symptoms in adolescents in routine clinical practice and school-based intervention programs.

New insight into the neural mechanisms of migraine in adolescents: Relationships with sleep

OBJECTIVE

This case-control study examines if measures of subjective and objective (actigraphic) sleep difficulties mediate alterations in amygdalar connectivity in adolescents with migraine compared to healthy adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents with migraine have different functional connectivity of the amygdala compared to individuals without migraine. Sleep is often disturbed in adolescents with migraine, and could contribute to the alterations in functional connectivity.

METHODS

Twenty adolescents with migraine and 20 healthy controls were recruited from Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Participants completed surveys about their headaches and overall sleep quality, sleep hygiene, and perceived sleep difficulties (Insomnia Severity Scale [ISI]); completed wrist-worn actigraphy; and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan.

RESULTS

Adolescents with migraine differed from healthy controls only in perceived difficulty in sleep initiation and maintenance (ISI: 8.5 ± 4.7 and 4.5 ± 3.7 [mean ± standard deviation], -4.00 [95% confidence: -6.7 to -1.3], p = 0.005) and had greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and the posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, dorsolateral prefrontal, sensorimotor, and the occipital cortexes. The differences in functional connectivity of the amygdala were not mediated by the subjective/objective sleep measures (ISI/wake minutes after sleep onset).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with migraine have greater connectivity between the amygdala and areas involved in sensory, affective, and cognitive aspects of pain. These alterations may not be due to higher levels of sleep difficulties in adolescents with migraine, suggesting that both amygdala and sleep alterations may play an independent role in migraine pathophysiology. This advances the understanding of the mechanisms underlying pediatric migraine and can potentially advance migraine management.

Subjective Sleep Complaints were Associated with Painful Temporomandibular Disorders in Adolescents: the Epidor-Adolescere Study

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances in adolescents has received a lot of attention in the literature and it is recognized as a serious health concern. The association between pain and sleep disturbances in adolescents has been extensively studied. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between various subjective sleep variables and painful TMD in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

to investigate the association between painful TMD and subjective sleep variables in adolescents' non-clinical sample. We conducted a cross-sectional study. TMD was classified according to the RDC/TMD criteria. The Revised Face Scale evaluated TMD pain intensity, and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed in trigeminal and extra-trigeminal areas. The subjective sleep variables were assessed according to the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and Sleep Behavior Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 690 adolescents (12.7±0.76 years), with 16.2% of them presenting painful TMD. Adolescents who frequently reported waking up more than twice per night and feeling tired when awake were more likely to present painful TMD symptoms [OR= 1.7 (95% CI: 1.04-2.90); p=0.034 and OR= 1.6 (95% CI: 1.01-2.48); p=0.046, respectively]. The intensity of TMD pain was negatively associated with sleep quality (p=0.015). Also, PPT values in the trigeminal and extra-trigeminal areas were negatively associated with total sleep time (p= 0.048 and p=0.042, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

the present results point out the importance of considering sleep complaints associated with painful TMD in adolescents.

Sleep phase and pre-sleep arousal predicted co-developmental trajectories of pain and insomnia within adolescence

The onset of both chronic pain and insomnia is high during adolescence. Although a bidirectional relationship between pain and insomnia has support, how pain and sleep co-develop throughout adolescence remains unknown. Sleep–wake patterns, pre-sleep behavior and pre-sleep arousal may influence the co-development of pain and insomnia. Four waves of longitudinal self-report data were used (N^baseline = 2767, Age^baseline M = 13.65 years, SD = 0.65). Multidimensional growth mixture modeling was used to identify four subgroups of adolescents with different concurrent trajectories of pain and insomnia. The trajectories followed each other across time in all classes: one class of consistently low pain and insomnia (68.7%), one class with persistent high symptoms (4.9%), as well as one class of increasing (13.9%), and one of decreasing (12.5%), trajectories. Later sleep–wake patterns and more pre-sleep cognitive-emotional arousal predicted both increasing and decreasing trajectories of concurrent pain and insomnia. The current study showed that developmental trajectories of pain and insomnia follow each other within adolescents and across adolescence. Both sleep-phase focused interventions as well as psychological interventions that focus on pre-sleep cognitive-emotional arousal may prove beneficial for adolescents with comorbid pain and insomnia.

Longitudinal, bidirectional relationships of insomnia symptoms and musculoskeletal pain across adolescence: the mediating role of mood

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have established a bidirectional relationship between sleep and pain, and mood has been proposed as a mediator of this relationship. There are only a limited number of longitudinal studies examining the mediational role of mood, and the directionality of effects between sleep, pain, and mood is uncertain. In addition, despite the high prevalence of pain and sleep problems during adolescence, these relationships have rarely been examined in a longitudinal sample of adolescents. Here, longitudinal survey data with 5 yearly measurements were used to examine the bidirectional relationship between insomnia symptoms and pain across adolescence (Mbaseline age = 13.65 years, Nbaseline = 2767). We also explored if depressed mood, positive affect, and anxious mood are mediators in both directions of the sleep-pain relationship. Using latent variables for insomnia, pain, and mood at multiple time points, the data were analyzed with cross-lagged panel models for longitudinal data with structural equation modeling. Current results confirmed a bidirectional relationship between insomnia symptoms and pain, where the effect of insomnia symptoms on pain was stronger than vice versa. Depressed mood and anxious mood mediated the effect of insomnia symptoms on pain, but not the reverse effect of pain on insomnia symptoms. Positive affect did not serve as a mediator in either direction. These findings add novel insights into the temporal directionality of sleep, pain, and mood during adolescence, suggesting a temporal path from sleep to pain, through mood, rather than a reciprocal relationship between the constructs.

Prevalence of Sleep Disturbances in Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Diagnosis and Management

Sleep disturbances represent an understudied yet common source of distress among pediatric cancer patients and survivors, with deleterious effects on quality of life. Sleep issues stem from multiple risk factors, yet individual contributors are difficult to isolate, consequently impeding the identification of targets for intervention. In many pediatric cancer patients, disrupted sleep and its negative impact on quality of life continue into adulthood and may affect various functional domains. This literature review highlights the types and prevalence of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients during active treatment and through survivorship. Potential etiological and risk factors for disturbed sleep are summarized, including the effects of cancer and its treatment, psychosocial and family factors, as well as individual-patient aspects, such as genetics, mood and coping skills. While existing assessment and management strategies are reviewed, the literature is incomplete, and significant gaps emerge in our understanding of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients and survivors. The review concludes with recommendations of areas where further research is needed. The aims of this review include increasing clinicians' awareness of sleep disturbances as a significant source of poor quality of life in pediatric cancer patients and survivors and directing researchers to gaps in our understanding of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients and survivors.

The associations between sleep disturbance, psychological dysfunction, pain intensity, and pain interference in children with chronic pain

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to better understand the associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms, and anger), and pain intensity and pain interference, in a sample of children with chronic pain.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Three hundred and forty-two children with chronic pain (8-18 years) completed measures assessing pain intensity, pain interference, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger. Regression analyses examined the direct, interaction (with sex), and mediation effects of sleep quality and psychological dysfunction on pain intensity and interference.

RESULTS

Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with both pain intensity and pain interference. However, measures of psychological dysfunction were associated significantly only with pain interference. Sex did not moderate these associations. The measures of psychological dysfunction mediated the associations between sleep disturbance and pain interference, but not those between sleep disturbance and pain intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed significant cross-sectional associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction and pain outcomes in children with chronic pain. Future research to test for causal associations is warranted.

Associations of frequent pain symptoms with excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents: a longitudinal study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Pain symptoms, sleep disturbance, and daytime sleepiness are common in adolescents. This study examined the cross-sectional and prospective associations between pain symptoms and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in a large sample of adolescents.

METHODS

Participants were 7,072 adolescents (mean age = 14.6 years) in a follow-up study of behavior and health in Shandong, China. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess pain symptoms (headache, stomachache, and other general pain), body weight and height, sleep, anxiety/depression, substance use, and family environment in November-December in 2015 and one year later. The Chinese adolescent daytime sleepiness scale (CADSS) was used to measure daytime sleepiness.

RESULTS

Of the sample, 19.8% and 23.2% had moderate or severe EDS at baseline and at 1-year follow-up, respectively. The prevalence and 1-year incidence rates of EDS significantly increased with the frequencies of pain symptoms. Frequent pain was significantly associated with increased risk of EDS at baseline (OR=2.01, 95% CI=1.56-2.59), incident EDS (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.03-1.93), and persistent EDS (OR=2.17, 95% CI=1.52-3.09) while adjusting for adolescent and family covariates, including anxiety/depression, nocturnal sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, frequent snoring, body mass index, and hypnotic use. Similar associations were observed across headache, stomachache, and other pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent pain is significantly and independently associated with increased risk of EDS. Our findings suggest that assessing and treating pain symptoms is important to improve healthy sleep and reduce risk of EDS in adolescents. Further research is needed to understand the underlying psychological and neurobiological mechanisms between pain and daytime sleepiness in adolescents.

Pediatric recurring pain in the community: the role of children's sleep and internalizing symptoms

Associations between poor sleep and pain may be amplified for children who also have depressive or anxious symptoms. This study examined associations between child sleep at eight years and recurrent pain at nine years along with the moderating role of internalizing symptoms. Families were from a community-based, ongoing longitudinal study (N = 632 children). At eight and nine years, twins (49.2% female, 56.7% non-Latinx European American, 28.8% Latinx) and caregivers participated in assessments focused on child sleep and pain, respectively. Approximately 53% of children had pain in at least one location at least monthly. Internalizing symptoms at age eight were positively associated with number of pain sites at age nine. Lower sleep efficiencies were associated with more pain sites for children with higher levels of internalizing symptoms. Later midpoint times were associated with more pain sites for children with lower levels of internalizing symptoms. Interventions focused on improving children's pain outcomes may consider targeting sleep behaviors and mental health.

The German version of the revised Adolescent Sleep-Wake Scale (rASWS) - A validation study in pediatric pain patients and school children

OBJECTIVE

Sleep problems are common in children and adolescents with chronic pain. The revised Adolescent Sleep-Wake Scale (rASWS) is an internationally well-established instrument to assess sleep quality in adolescents. So far, no German version is available. The study aimed to provide a validated German version of the rASWS, specifically for use in children and adolescents with chronic pain.

METHODS

The translated questionnaire was validated in a sample of N = 159 pediatric outpatients with chronic pain (8-17 years; 65.4% female), who presented to a specialized pediatric pain center. For cross-validation a community sample of N = 1348 school children was analyzed.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure of the original 10-item 3-factor model in the sample of children and adolescents with chronic pain, which showed poor model fit. Model modifications were carried out by deleting 3 items with low factor loadings stepwise. The overall model fit of the final 3-factor model containing 7 items was excellent. Cronbach's α of the derived scales ranged from 0.74 to 0.86. Cross-validation in a community sample of school children confirmed the superiority of the 7-item model. The convergent validity of the measure was proved by moderate correlations between the rASWS and self-reported sleep problems. Associations with chronic pain characteristics were evident for pain-related disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the 7-item version of the rASWS for German-speaking children and adolescents with and without chronic pain is recommended as a self-report measure of sleep quality.

Identification of Neonatal Infant Pain Assessment Tools as a Possibility of Their Application in Clinical Practice in Croatia: An Integrative Literature Review

OBJECTIVES

This article presents an integrative review of the literature with the aim of identifying instruments already in existence for measuring neonatal infant pain with a view to exploring possibilities of applying them in clinical practice in Croatia.

DESIGN

An integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

The databases searched included MEDLINE, Cinahl Cochrane Library, and Science Direct. The search was limited to available full-text articles in English published between 1990 and 2020. The studies were selected according to the PRISMA strategy and evaluated based on the methodologic framework proposed by Whittemore and Knafl.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS

The research identified 13 scales for assessing pain in neonatal infants, including 5 one-dimensional and 8 multidimensional scales that assess acute and prolonged pain in preterm and full-term infants.

RESULTS

Overall, the articles in this review confirm that pain is a multidimensional phenomenon and that professionals should consider other specific characteristics of the neonatal infant population while measuring pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review showed that various tools exist assessing pain in neonatal infants that could be used in clinical practice in Croatia. However, it is difficult to determine the most appropriate instrument at this stage, as the choice depends on various factors that still need to be considered. The decision on which pain scale to use or which is more appropriate should be based on further psychometric tests, its accuracy, and ease of use.

Seeing the Whole Elephant: a scoping review of behavioral treatments for pediatric insomnia

Pediatric insomnia is common, impacting up to a third of typically-developing, healthy children, and over 80% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders or chronic medical conditions. Previous reviews of behavioral interventions for pediatric insomnia have had a limited focus on a single age group, a specific population, and/or only randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, few reviews have considered non-sleep outcomes of both children and their parents. This scoping review provides a broader context, including studies regardless of research design or population, along with sleep and non-sleep study outcomes. Clear gaps in the literature were identified, highlighting the need for additional research in different populations, including school-age children and adolescents, racial/ethnic groups around the world, as well as youth with medical or psychiatric disorders. In addition, more research is needed on different features of treatment, including the delivery mode, involvement of all family members, non-sleep outcomes, and long-term follow-up.

Clinical Validity of the PROMIS Pediatric Sleep Measures across Populations of Children with Chronic Illnesses and Neurodevelopment Disorders

OBJECTIVE

To examine the clinical validity of the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Sleep Disturbance (SD) and Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) short forms.

METHODS

Youth (8-17 years) from clinical populations with known SDs (sleep clinic n = 126, autism n = 276, asthma n = 82, asthma + eczema n = 68) and the general population (n = 902) completed the PROMIS Pediatric SD and SRI 8-item short forms, along with established measures of sleep (Children's Report of Sleep Patterns, Sleep Habits Survey), PROMIS Pediatric Fatigue, and parent-reported clinical indicators (does child have sleep problem, use melatonin, use prescription sleep medication).

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated factorial invariance for all clinical groups. Significant differences between the general population and clinical groups were found for SD and SRI (medium to large effect sizes). Convergent validity was demonstrated through separate hierarchical regression models that showed significant associations between parent-reported clinical indicators and SD and SRI, above and beyond clinical group, as well as moderate to strong correlations between the PROMIS sleep measures and both established measures of sleep and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

The PROMIS Pediatric SD and SRI short forms provide clinicians and researchers a brief, accurate, and valid way to measure patient-reported sleep outcomes in pediatric populations.

Sleep disorders in cystic fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that leads to airway mucus accumulation, chronic inflammation, and recurrent respiratory infections - all likely impacting sleep. However, controlled studies of sleep in CF patients are limited, and have shown mixed results. We reviewed all publications on CF and sleep indexed in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus through April 2019. In the meta-analysis, we calculated pooled weighted mean differences for sleep quality, sleepiness, oximetry, and polysomnographic (PSG) parameters, using fixed or random-effects models as appropriate. A total of 87 manuscripts were reviewed. Compared to controls, children with CF had lower nighttime oxygen saturation nadirs, decreased sleep efficiency and a higher respiratory event index, with no differences in the percentage of REM sleep. Adults with CF had lower oxygen saturation nadirs, with a trend towards reduced sleep efficiency and no differences in REM sleep. In addition, patients with CF cough more during sleep and experience painful events that interfere with sleep. Actigraphy and questionnaires suggest disturbed sleep and daytime sleepiness. Noninvasive ventilation appears to improve gas exchange and symptoms. We conclude that when sleep is evaluated objectively or subjectively in patients with CF, perturbations are common, emphasizing the importance of their identification and treatment and inclusion as part of routine care. Additional research, with larger sample sizes and standardized outcomes, are necessary.

Moderators of Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents With Chronic Pain: Who Benefits From Treatment at Long-Term Follow-Up?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for pediatric chronic pain, but little is understood about which youth are most likely to benefit. The current study aimed to identify individual characteristics for which CBT yielded the greatest (and least) clinical benefit among adolescents with chronic pain participating in a multicenter randomized controlled trial of Internet-delivered CBT (WebMAP2). A total of 273 adolescents ages 11 to 17 with chronic pain (M age = 14.7; 75.1% female) were randomly assigned to Internet-delivered CBT or Internet-delivered pain education and evaluated at pretreatment, post-treatment, and 2 longer term follow-up periods (6 and 12 months). Multilevel growth models tested several adolescent- and parent-level moderators of change in pain-related disability including 1) adolescent age, sex, pain characteristics, distress, and sleep quality and 2) parent education level, distress, and protective parenting behavior. Younger adolescents (ages 11-14; vs older adolescents ages 15-17) and those whose parents experienced lower levels (vs higher levels) of emotional distress responded better to Internet CBT treatment, showing greater improvements in disability up to 12 months post-treatment. This study expands knowledge on who benefits most from Internet-delivered psychological treatment for youth with chronic pain in the context of a large multicenter randomized controlled trial, suggesting several avenues for maximizing treatment efficacy and durability in this population. PERSPECTIVE: This study identified adolescent- and parent-level predictors of treatment response to Internet-based CBT for pediatric chronic pain up to 12 months later. Younger adolescents and those whose parents had lower levels of distress may particularly benefit from this intervention. Older adolescents and those whose parents exhibit higher distress may require alternative treatment approaches.

The Interrelationship between Sleep and Chronic Pain in Adolescents

Over half of youth with chronic pain report sleep deficiency including difficulties falling asleep, maintaining sleep, feeling unrested, and experiencing short sleep duration. Sleep deficiency has been shown to play a causal role in the development or worsening of chronic pain, and is associated with a variety of negative consequences for youth with chronic pain. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the literature on the interrelationship of sleep and chronic pain in adolescents. We review the impact and prevalence of sleep disturbances, conceptual models of the interrelationship of sleep and pain, biobehavioral mechanisms and risk factors, sleep assessment, and treatment of sleep deficiency and chronic pain in adolescents. Our recommendations for future research include understanding biobehavioral mechanisms that underlie the link between chronic pain and sleep deficiency to help guide development and testing of treatments for co-occurring pain and sleep disturbance in adolescents.

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying the sleep-pain relationship in adolescence: A review

Adolescence characterizes a period of significant change in brain structure and function, causing the neural circuitry to be particularly susceptible to the environment and various other experiences. Chronic pain and sleep deprivation represent major health issues that plague adolescence. A bidirectional relationship exists between sleep and pain; however, emerging evidence suggests that sleep disturbances have a stronger influence on subsequent pain than vice versa. The neurobiological underpinnings of this relationship, particularly during adolescence, are poorly understood. This review examines the current literature regarding sleep and pain in adolescence, with a particular focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying pain, sleep problems, and the neural circuitry that potentially links the two. Finally, a research agenda is outlined to stimulate future research on this topic. Given the high prevalence of these health issues during adolescence and the debilitating effects they inflict on nearly every domain of development, it is crucial that we determine the neurobiological mechanisms fundamental to this relationship and identify potential therapeutic strategies.

Sleep quality and noise: comparisons between hospital and home settings

BACKGROUND

Children and their parents report poor sleep in hospital and complain about noise.

OBJECTIVE

To measure sleep quality and noise levels in hospital and compare these with the home environment.

DESIGN

Observational within case-controlled study.

SETTING

Paediatric medical wards at Southampton Children's Hospital and bedrooms at home.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Participants were children aged 3-16 years and their co-sleeping parents. Sleep quality was measured using actigraphy for a maximum of 5 nights in each setting. Median sound levels at the bedside were monitored overnight in a subgroup in both settings.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Total sleep time, sleep efficiency, median sound levels overnight.

RESULTS

40 children and 16 mothers completed actigraphy in both settings. Children had on average 62.9 min, and parents 72.8 min, per night less sleep in hospital than at home. Both children and parents had poorer sleep quality in hospital than at home: mean sleep efficiency 77.0% vs 83.2% for children and 77.1% vs 88.9% for parents, respectively. Median sound levels in hospital measured in 8 children averaged 48.6 dBA compared with 34.7 dBA at home and exceeded World Health Organization recommendations of 30 dB.

CONCLUSIONS

Children and their mothers have poor quality sleep in paediatric wards. This may affect the child's behaviour, recovery and pain tolerance. Sleep deprivation adds to parental burden and stress. Sound levels are significantly raised in hospital and may contribute to poor sleep. Reduction in the level of noise might lead to an improvement in sleep, affecting the quality of stay of both parent and child.

Sleep disturbances and their impact in pediatric cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, life-shortening illness that affects multiple systems and results in frequent respiratory infections, chronic cough, fat malabsorption and malnutrition. Poor sleep is often reported by patients with cystic fibrosis. Although objective data to explain these complaints have been limited, they do show poor sleep efficiency and frequent arousals. Abnormalities in gas exchange are also observed during sleep in patients with cystic fibrosis. The potential impact of these abnormalities in sleep on health and quality of life remains largely unstudied. This review summarizes what is known about sleep in children with cystic fibrosis, and implications for clinical practice. This report also highlights new evidence on the impact of sleep problems on disease-specific outcomes such as lung function, and identifies areas that need further exploration.

Patient's experiences with the care for juvenile idiopathic arthritis across Europe

BACKGROUND

To assess the views of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and their parents on the care and treatment they receive in referral pediatric rheumatology centers throughout Europe.

METHODS

In a collaboration between physicians and patient associations, a questionnaire was developed, covering various domains of JIA care, including demographics, diagnosis, referrals to various health care professionals, access to pain and fatigue management and support groups, information they received about the disease and awareness of and participation in research. The questionnaire was translated and distributed by parent associations and pediatric rheumatologists in 25 countries, 22 of which were European. After completion the replies were entered on the PRINTO website. Replies could either be entered directly by parents on the website or on paper. In these cases, the replies were scanned and emailed by local hospital staff to Utrecht where they were entered by I.R. in the database.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 622 parents in 23 countries. The majority (66.7%) of patients were female, with median age 10-11 years at the completion of the questionnaire. Frequencies of self-reported JIA categories corresponded to literature. Some patients had never been referred to the ophthalmologist (22.8%) or physiotherapist (31.7%). Low rates of referral or access to fatigue (3.5%) or pain management teams (10.0%), age appropriate disease education (11.3%), special rehabilitation (13.7%) and support groups (20.1%) were observed. Many patients indicated they did not have contact details for urgent advice (35.9%) and did not receive information about immunizations (43.2%), research (55.6%) existence of transition of care clinics (89,2%) or financial support (89.7%). While on immunosuppressive drugs, about one half of patients did not receive information about immunizations, travelling, possible infections or how to deal with chickenpox or shingles.

CONCLUSIONS

Low rates of referral to health care professionals may be due to children whose illness is well managed and who do not need additional support or information. Improvements are needed, especially in the areas of supportive care and information patients receive. It is also important to improve doctor patient communication between visits. Physicians can be instrumental in the setting up of support groups and increasing patients' awareness of existing support. Suggestions are given to convey crucial pieces of information structurally and repeatedly to ensure, among other things, compliance.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture for analgesia in adult cancer patients with breakthrough pain: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a fixed nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture for the management of breakthrough cancer pain.

METHODS/DESIGN

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was undertaken in the Medical ward of Tumor Hospital of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. 240 cancer patients with breakthrough pain were recruited and randomly received a standard pain treatment (morphine sulphate immediate release) plus a pre-prepared nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture, or the standard pain treatment plus oxygen. The primary endpoint measure was the numerical rating scale (NRS) score measured at baseline, 5 and 15 min after the beginning of treatment, and at 5 min post treatment.

RESULT

In all, analysis of pain score (NRS) at 5 min after the beginning of treatment shown a significant decrease in nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture treated patients with 2.8 ± 1.3 versus 5.5 ± 1.2 in controls (p < 0.01). At 15 min during the intervention, the mean pain score for nitrous oxide/oxygen was 2.0 ± 1.1 compared with 5.6 ± 1.3 for oxygen (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that self-administered nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture was effective in reducing moderate to severe breakthrough pain among patients with cancer.

SIGNIFICANCE

The management of breakthrough cancer pain is always a challenge due to its temporal characteristics of rapid onset, moderate to severe in intensity, short duration (median 30-60 min). Our study find that self-administered nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture was effective in reducing moderate to severe breakthrough cancer pain.

Chronic disruptive pain in emerging adults with and without chronic health conditions and the moderating role of psychiatric disorders: Evidence from a population-based cross-sectional survey in Canada

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There has been a growth in the proportion of emerging adults vulnerable to pain-related sequelae of chronic health conditions (CHCs). Given the paucity of research during this important developmental period, this study investigated the association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain among emerging adults and the extent to which psychiatric disorders moderate this association.

METHODS

Data come from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health (CCHS-MH). This cross-sectional survey included 5987 participants that were 15-30 years of age and self-reported their CHCs (n=2460, 41%) and the extent to which pain impacted daily functioning using items from the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI 3). Group comparisons between respondents with CHCs and healthy controls were made using chi-square tests. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed from ordinal logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Product-term interactions between CHCs and psychiatric disorders were included in the models to explore moderating effects. All analyses were weighted to maintain representativeness of the study sample to the Canadian population.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 23.5 (SE 0.1) years and 48% were female. Compared to healthy controls, a greater proportion of participants with CHCs reported having chronic pain (20.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001). Among those with chronic pain, respondents with CHCs reported a greater number of activities prevented because of chronic disruptive pain (χ²=222.28, p<0.001). Similarly, in logistic regression models, participants with CHCs had greater odds of reporting chronic disruptive pain (OR=4.94, 95% CI=4.08-5.99). Alcohol (β=-0.66; p=0.025) and drug abuse/dependence disorders (β=-1.24; p=0.012) were found to moderate the association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain. Specifically, the probability of chronic disruptive pain was higher for emerging adults without CHCs and with alcohol or drug disorders; however, among participants with CHCs, probability was higher for those without these disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a robust association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain. The moderating effects suggest that alcohol or drug disorders are especially harmful for emerging adults without CHCs and contribute to higher levels of chronic disruptive pain; however, among those with CHCs, alcohol and illicit drugs may be used as a numbing agent to blunt chronic disruptive pain.

IMPLICATIONS

Findings from this study have implications for the integration and coordination of services to design strategies aimed at managing chronic disruptive pain and preventing pain-related disabilities later in life. Within the health system, healthcare providers should engage in dialogues about mental health and substance use regularly with emerging adults, be proactive in screening for psychiatric disorders, and continue to monitor the impact of pain on daily functioning. Given the age range of emerging adults, there is tremendous opportunity for clinicians to work cooperatively with colleagues in the education system to support emerging adults with and without CHCs. Overall, clinicians, researchers, educators, and those in social services should continue to be mindful of the complex interrelationships between physical and mental health and chronic disruptive pain and work cooperatively to optimize health outcomes and prevent pain-related disabilities among emerging adults.