Review: psychological interventions reduce the severity and frequency of chronic pain in children and adolescents
QUESTION: In children and adolescents with chronic pain and associated distress and disability, are psychological interventions effective for reducing the frequency and severity of pain?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline (1966–99), PsycLIT (1987–99), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1980–99), and the Social Sciences Indices (1981–99). Bibliographies of relevant articles were reviewed, and experts in the field were contacted for additional studies.
Study selection
Studies were selected if they were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a clearly defined psychological treatment (even when this treatment was concomitant with other non-psychological treatments given as standard care) with a control condition (wait list and self monitoring) for chronic pain in children or adolescents.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on study setting, sample size, demographic characteristics of the sample and caregivers, therapist characteristics, details of the interventions, study quality, and outcomes. The main …
