Biomedical subjects

Vivian P B M Merlijn

Publications and source records attributed to Vivian P B M Merlijn.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

A cognitive-behavioural program for adolescents with chronic pain-a pilot study.

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural training program for adolescents with chronic pain irrespective of pain localisation. A secondary aim was to give an impression of the effect of the program on pain and quality of life. Eight adolescents (14-18 years) with chronic non-organic pain recruited from the general population (and their parents) participated in this pilot study. The intervention included five group meetings alternated with four telephone contacts (during the self-management weeks) over a period of 9 weeks. The training aimed to change pain behaviour through pain education, relaxation strategies, problem-solving techniques, assertiveness training, cognitive restructuring and by stimulating the adolescent's physical activity level. The training further addresses the social context of pain by inviting parents to attend two meetings for the parents only, and by asking the adolescents to bring a peer to one of the meetings. Adolescents and their parents were positive about the program. Adolescents felt they were more in control of their pain and parents valued the support they experienced in helping their children to master the pain. The training was considered to be feasible in daily life. Further, the preliminary data showed an effect on pain and quality of life in the expected direction. The results underline the need for a definitive study with a larger sample size and a random controlled design.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Psychosocial factors associated with chronic pain in adolescents.

A number of psychosocial factors have been associated with the onset, exacerbation and/or maintenance of chronic pain in adolescents. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relative importance of vulnerability, reinforcement, and modeling. We compared 222 adolescents with chronic pain and no documented physiological etiology (headache, back, limb and abdominal pain) with 148 controls and their (respectively 183 vs. 127) parents. Analyses showed that adolescents with chronic pain are more vulnerable in terms of neuroticism, negative fear of failure, and (less) experienced social acceptance. Contrary to our expectations, the chronic pain group experienced less reinforcement for their pain behavior by both parents and peers than the control group. While the number of pain models was higher in the chronic pain group, no differences were found between their parents and those of the adolescents without chronic pain in pain experience, pain parameters, and pain coping. Regression analyses on the contribution of psychosocial factors to chronic pain and its parameters sustained the positive relation between vulnerability, (less) pain reinforcement, pain models and coping with pain. Furthermore, we also found evidence that gender differences have to be taken into account.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors related to the quality of life in adolescents with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between pain characteristics, psychosocial factors, and quality of life among adolescents with chronic pain that existed for at least 3 months, either recurrently (ie, pain with pain-free intervals) or continuously. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in 194 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who completed questionnaires on pain, psychosocial factors (ie, vulnerability, reinforcement, modeling, and coping), and quality of life, and also kept a diary about their pain complaints for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Multiple hierarchical regression analysis revealed that psychosocial variables accounted for a significant variance in the adolescents' quality of life, even when controlling for pain characteristics. Analysis of the independent variables showed that pain intensity and vulnerability contributed significantly and uniquely to the variance of most quality-of-life domains. In addition, the authors found that emotion-focused avoidance coping strategies (ie, catastrophizing) strengthened the negative relation between pain intensity and psychological functioning. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to pain, psychosocial factors (vulnerability, reinforcement, modeling, and coping) are strongly associated with quality of life in adolescents with chronic pain. These results may contribute to psychological interventions focused on psychological adaptation in young pain patients to improve their quality of life.

Adolescent↗