Topical Review: Resilience Resources and Mechanisms in Pediatric Chronic Pain

OBJECTIVE

To apply resilience theory and the extant literature to propose a resilience-risk model for pediatric chronic pain and provide an agenda for research and clinical practice in pediatric chronic pain resilience. 

METHOD

Literature review to develop a resilience-risk model for pediatric chronic pain.

RESULTS

The chronic pain literature has identified unique individual and social/environmental resilience resources and pain-related resilience mechanisms that promote pain adaptation. These data support our ecological resilience-risk model for pediatric chronic pain, and the model highlights novel directions for clinical and research efforts for youth with chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The examination of pediatric chronic pain from a strengths-based approach might lead to novel clinical avenues to empower youth to positively adapt and live beyond their pain.

Intellectual and academic performance in children undergoing solid organ pretransplant evaluation

Although prior research has shown lower intellectual functioning across pediatric solid organ transplant recipients relative to matched siblings or norm comparisons, few studies have assessed intellectual and academic performance prior to transplant across organ groups. The current data examine intellectual and academic functioning in children being evaluated for kidney, liver, or heart transplant. This investigation included intellectual and academic testing data from 195 children and adolescents between the ages of six and 19 yr evaluated for solid organ transplantation. Across organ groups, patients' intellectual functioning as estimated by the WASI/WASI-II at the time of pretransplant evaluation was within the average range, but lower compared to test norms. Patients demonstrated lower estimates of word reading, math computation, and spelling skills compared to the normal population, with the exception of heart patients' word reading and spelling skills and liver patients' spelling scores. Cognitive and academic impairments exist in children prior to transplantation. Findings emphasize the support that patients may require to manage the complicated medical regimen and succeed academically. Routine cognitive and academic assessment can inform healthcare providers regarding transplant patients' capacity to take on increasing medical responsibility and successfully reintegrate into the school environment.

Automated parent-training for preschooler immunization pain relief: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To examine a computerized parent training program, "Bear Essentials," to improve parents' knowledge and coaching to help relieve preschoolers' immunization distress.

METHOD

In a randomized controlled trial, 90 parent-child dyads received Bear Essentials parent training plus distraction, distraction only, or control. Outcomes were parent knowledge, parent and child behavior, and child pain.

RESULTS

Bear Essentials resulted in improved knowledge of the effects of parents' reassurance, provision of information, and apologizing on children's procedural distress. Trained parents also engaged in less reassurance and more distraction and encouragement of deep breathing. Children in Bear Essentials engaged in more distraction and deep breathing than children in other groups. There were no effects on measures of child distress or pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that the interactive computer training program impacted parent knowledge, parent behavior, and child behavior as hypothesized, but modifications will be necessary to have more robust outcomes on child procedural distress.

Risk and Resilience in Pediatric Chronic Pain: Exploring the Protective Role of Optimism

OBJECTIVE

Fear of pain and pain catastrophizing are prominent risk factors for pediatric chronic pain-related maladjustment. Although resilience has largely been ignored in the pediatric pain literature, prior research suggests that optimism might benefit youth and can be learned. We applied an adult chronic pain risk-resilience model to examine the interplay of risk factors and optimism on functioning outcomes in youth with chronic pain.

METHOD

Participants included 58 children and adolescents (8-17 years) attending a chronic pain clinic and their parents. Participants completed measures of fear of pain, pain catastrophizing, optimism, disability, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Consistent with the literature, pain intensity, fear of pain, and catastrophizing predicted functioning. Optimism was a unique predictor of quality of life, and optimism contributed to better functioning by minimizing pain-related fear and catastrophizing.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimism might be protective and offset the negative influence of fear of pain and catastrophizing on pain-related functioning.