TREATMENT-RESISTANT PAIN AND DISTRESS DURING PEDIATRIC BURN-DRESSING CHANGES

Recent research has suggested some efficacy for the use of hypnosis in the control of pain and distress in a pediatric population undergoing painful medical procedures. Here, we study a sample (N = 23) of pedia tric subjects undergoing burn-dressing changes and receiving either an imagery-based or control (social-support) treatment. Subjects' levels of distress were assessed with the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress. Results indicated that distress behaviors in this population can be measured reliably using this scale. However, no support was fo und for the main hypothesis that imagery treatment would be superior t o control treatment in the alleviation of distress, nor were these tre atments effective in comparison to baseline conditions. We discuss the formidable problem that burn and dressing-change pain presents, as we ll as the reasons why this treatment attempt might have failed to have the predicted effects. We also discuss important developmental consid erations regarding the adequate assessment of pain and distress.