Risk severity moderated effectiveness of pain treatment in adolescents

Background and aims: A targeted pain program may prevent the progression and subsequent occurrence of chronic pain in adolescents. This study tested the effectiveness of a new acceptance and commitment therapy-based pain management intervention, using physical and psychological functions as the outcomes. The objective was also to determine whether Pediatric Pain Screening Tool risk profiles function as outcome moderator in the current sample. A valid screening tool would enable the program development.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive adolescent patients (13-17 years old) with idiopathic recurrent musculoskeletal pain completed the study. The intervention comprised acceptance and commitment therapy-oriented multidisciplinary treatment. Pediatric Pain Screening Tool, pain frequency, functional disability, school attendance, physical endurance, depressive symptoms, and catastrophizing coping style were measured before treatment (baseline) and again at 6 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. To test the effectiveness of the new program, we also determined whether the original risk classification of each patient remained constant during the intervention.

Results: The intervention was effective for high-risk patients. In particular, the pain frequency decreased, and psychosocial measures improved. In post-intervention, the original risk classification of seven patients in the high-risk category changed to medium-risk. PPST classification acted as a moderator of the outcome of the current program.

Conclusions: The categorization highlighted the need to modify the program content for the medium-risk patients. The categorization is a good tool to screen adolescent patients with pain.