Children and Pain
Pain Conditions in Children
Symptoms of chronic or recurrent pain in children and adolescents are common. Research studies show that as many as 30-40% of children and adolescents complain of pain that occurs at least once per week.
Having chronic pain can affect a child's development in many ways. Pain often hinders the everyday functioning of children in their family relationships, their ability to attend and perform in school, and their social development. To help reduce the negative impact that chronic pain can have on a child's life, it is important that families seek psychological services as part of the treatment approach to their child's pain problems.
Sometimes families feel like their doctor is telling them that the pain is "all in their heads" or that the child is crazy when a physician recommends psychological treatment, but this is not the case. Although chronic pain is not usually caused by emotional difficulties, it is very common for children with chronic pain to experience sadness, frustration, anger, and anxiety in response to the challenges of living with pain. Psychologists, especially those who specialize in treating pain problems, can provide a number of important services to the child with pain such as teaching children self-management techniques for pain, evaluation and treatment for pain-related disability, and evaluation and treatment for pain-related emotional difficulties. Through comprehensive treatment programs that address the physical, psychological and the social/environmental aspects of pediatric chronic pain, children with chronic pain disorders can gain the tools they need to overcome the potentially disabling effects of chronic pain and continue to grow and develop in a supportive context.
To learn more about specific diseases and conditions related to chronic pain and children, please read the following articles:
Having chronic pain can affect a child's development in many ways. Pain often hinders the everyday functioning of children in their family relationships, their ability to attend and perform in school, and their social development. To help reduce the negative impact that chronic pain can have on a child's life, it is important that families seek psychological services as part of the treatment approach to their child's pain problems.
Sometimes families feel like their doctor is telling them that the pain is "all in their heads" or that the child is crazy when a physician recommends psychological treatment, but this is not the case. Although chronic pain is not usually caused by emotional difficulties, it is very common for children with chronic pain to experience sadness, frustration, anger, and anxiety in response to the challenges of living with pain. Psychologists, especially those who specialize in treating pain problems, can provide a number of important services to the child with pain such as teaching children self-management techniques for pain, evaluation and treatment for pain-related disability, and evaluation and treatment for pain-related emotional difficulties. Through comprehensive treatment programs that address the physical, psychological and the social/environmental aspects of pediatric chronic pain, children with chronic pain disorders can gain the tools they need to overcome the potentially disabling effects of chronic pain and continue to grow and develop in a supportive context.
To learn more about specific diseases and conditions related to chronic pain and children, please read the following articles: