Improved pain acceptance and interference following outpatient interdisciplinary pediatric chronic pain treatment.

Objectives: Intensive interdisciplinary chronic pain treatment programs have demonstrated that pain acceptance predicts positive treatment outcomes, but limited research has focused on less-intensive programs. This study aimed to examine associations between changes in pain acceptance and pain interference among youth participating in an outpatient interdisciplinary chronic pain treatment program.

Design: Youth presenting to an evaluation within an interdisciplinary outpatient pediatric chronic pain program completed questionnaires at initial program evaluation (T1) and three months later (T2).

The Utility of an Anxiety Screening Measure in Youth With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Presence of Anxiety.

Objectives: Anxiety is common in youth with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) and is related to increased pain-related impairment. However, it is unknown if self-reported anxiety on a clinical screener represents a true anxiety disorder diagnosis in youth with FAPD. Further, little is known about clinical characteristics in youth with FAPD and comorbid anxiety (ANX).

Risk and Resilience Factors Impacting Treatment Compliance and Functional Impairment among Adolescents Participating in an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Pediatric Chronic Pain Management Program.

Recurrent pain is a common experience in childhood and adolescence and can result in significant disability in youth, including poor quality of life, school absences, and reduced social activities. Evidence has linked adolescent risk and resilience factors with treatment outcomes. However, less research has focused on examining risk and resilience factors that may influence or predict adolescents' compliance to treatment within an interdisciplinary pediatric chronic pain management program.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Tailored to Anxiety Symptoms Improves Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of a stepped care model, and establish the effect of a tailored cognitive behavioral therapy, the Aim to Decrease Anxiety and Pain Treatment (ADAPT), compared with standard medical treatment as usual on pain-related outcomes and anxiety.

Study Design: Eligible patients between the ages of 9 and 14 years with functional abdominal pain disorders (n = 139) received enhanced usual care during their medical visit to a gastroenterologist. Those that failed to respond to enhanced usual care were randomized to receive either a tailored cognitive behavioral therapy (ADAPT) plus medical treatment as usual, or medical treatment as usual only.