Children with unexplained chronic pain: substantial impairment in everyday life

Aims: To describe and quantify impairment in an outpatient population of children with chronic pain of unknown origin (UCP). Methods: A total of 149 children who presented with pain of at least three months’ duration and without a satisfactory explanation at presentation were studied. Number of soma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 2005-07, Vol.90 (7), p.680-686
Main Authors: Konijnenberg, A Y, Uiterwaal, C S P M, Kimpen, J L L, van der Hoeven, J, Buitelaar, J K, de Graeff-Meeder, E R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Biological and medical sciences
C group
Child
Child Health
Child Health Questionnaire Child Form
Children
Children & youth
Childrens health
Children’s Somatisation Inventory
CHQ-CF
Chronic Disease
Chronic pain
CSI
Data Analysis
Diagnosis
Disability
Evaluation
Family physicians
Female
functional disability
General aspects
General Health Perceptions (scale CHQ-CF)
GHP
GP group
Headaches
Health aspects
Health Conditions
Health Status Indicators
Hospitals
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Medical Evaluation
Medical referrals
Medical sciences
Neurology
Original
Outpatient care facilities
Pain
Pain - psychology
Pain - rehabilitation
Pain Measurement - methods
Pain of Unknown origin in Children Study
Pediatric Pain Questionnaire
Pediatrics
Physical Examinations
Physical Functioning (scale CHQ-CF)
Physicians
PPQ
PUC study
Quality of Life
Questionnaires
Referral
Role and Social Functioning (scale CHQ-CF)
Somatoform Disorders - rehabilitation
Surgeons
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teaching Methods
the group of children referred by a consultant physician or surgeon
the group of children solely evaluated by their general practitioner prior to referral
UCP
unexplained chronic pain
VAS
Visual Analogue Scale
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Description
Summary:Aims: To describe and quantify impairment in an outpatient population of children with chronic pain of unknown origin (UCP). Methods: A total of 149 children who presented with pain of at least three months’ duration and without a satisfactory explanation at presentation were studied. Number of somatic complaints (Children’s Somatisation Inventory, CSI), pain intensity (VAS, 0–10 cm), functional disability (Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF) and clinical history), and general health perceptions (CHQ) were determined. Results: Mean age of the children was 11.8 years; 73% were girls. Overall, 72% suffered impairment in sports activities, 51% reported absence from school, 40% experienced limitations in social functioning, and 34% had problems with sleeping. Mean number of somatic symptoms differed significantly between boys (8.4) and girls (10.7). The CHQ-CF scores for physical functioning, role/social functioning, and general health perceptions were 76.4, 70.7, and 57.5, respectively, indicating substantial impairment on all domains. The mean pain intensity was 4.7 for current and 7.1 for worst pain. Children solely evaluated by a general practitioner prior to referral reported less, though still substantial, impairment. Low general health perceptions, impaired role/social functioning, high pain intensity, and having headache or musculoskeletal pain were independent predictors of having significant impairment. Conclusions: Referred children with UCP show substantial impairment on multiple domains in daily life.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/adc.2004.056820