Translating Evidence for Psychological Interventions to Manage Recurrent Pain and Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents: Three Trials

摘要

The medical community has matured to the point where it is now acceptable to openly acknowledge and discuss the fact that children and adolescents experience pain on a regular basis (Fearon et al. 1996; Perquin et al. 2000). From this acknowledgment follows the responsibility to recognize that there are subpopulations of adolescents and children with pain who require pain management. In this, chapter we report on three studies that share the goal of successful, translation of clinical research findings to populations of children with disabling pain. All three evaluate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for the management of pain. Walco and colleagues conducted the first study in the United States. This study enrolled children with cancer, for whom repeated exposure to procedures is a common and necessary part of treatment, and for whom these interventions are typically painful and distressing. Merlijn and Hunfeld conducted the second study in the Netherlands. This study assessed a pilot educational program delivered in the community for adolescents with chronic and recurrent pain. Eccleston and colleagues conducted the third study in the United Kingdom. This study employed an interdisciplinary residential program for adolescents with chronic pain (Eccleston et al., in press).