PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN CHILDREN WITH IDIOPATHIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN- A PROSPECTIVE, LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

To explore the role of psychosocial factors in the development and per sistence of idiopathic musculoskeletal pain (IMP) in children, 23 chil dren with IMP and 52 children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) we re compared at first admission to hospital and at 9 y follow-up. Semis tructured interviews were performed at both assessments. At first admi ssion, the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses was high both in patien ts with IMP and patients with JCA, but patients with IMP mon often had pain models, reported more school stress and more often lived with on e biological parent. At follow-up, overall psychosocial functioning an d level of chronic family difficulties were improved in both groups, b ut patients with IMP had a higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses and more chronic family difficulties and life events than patients wit h JCA. The persistence of IMP at follow-up was related to pain models, school stress, less parental education and more chronic family diffic ulties at first admission. Findings support the association between ps ychosocial factors and childhood IMP.