A. Aasland et al., PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN CHILDREN WITH IDIOPATHIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN- A PROSPECTIVE, LONGITUDINAL-STUDY, Acta paediatrica, 86(7), 1997, pp. 740-746
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.