A Biopsychosocial Framework for Assessing and Managing Chronic Pain in Children

Research on chronic pain reveals activation of multiple neural pathways, supporting a biopsychosocial approach to managing chronic pain in children.

A state-of-the-art review on chronic pain in children emphasizes two essential concepts for primary care clinicians: (1) Patterns of symptoms, behaviors, and disability are similar in cases of chronic pain with a known and unknown antecedent, and (2) Categorizing chronic pain as physical or functional in origin is not clinically useful.

Community surveys indicate that the median prevalence of idiopathic pain in children and adolescents is 11%–38%. The highest rates are associated with headaches (23%–51%), functional abdominal pain (2%–41%), back pain (14%–24%), and musculoskeletal pain (4%–40%). High rates are also reported in children with organic diseases (e.g., sickle cell disease) and with persistent postoperative pain after major surger…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics