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The Problem of Pain: Chronic Pain

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Book cover Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

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Abstract

Youth chronic pain management presents unique challenges to the pediatric psychologist in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This chapter includes specific and practical guidance for working with youth and their families/caregivers presenting to an inpatient setting for treatment of chronic pain. Conceptualization of pediatric chronic pain from a biopsychosocial framework informs the chapter which includes guidance in specific domains to consider within an initial assessment. Practical advice is provided regarding communicating with families about taking a rehabilitative treatment approach in such a way as to increase readiness for treatment of their child’s chronic pain upon discharge from the hospital. The chapter gives clinical pearls for psychologists to make valuable contributions to multidisciplinary treatment teams which seek to incorporate psychological information relevant to the child’s treatment within the hospital setting. Finally, information is offered for referring and coordinating care for patients upon discharge when they have ongoing pain needs including school reentry, effective non-pharmacologic treatment, and prioritizing mental health needs that co-occur with patient’s pain symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Emily Foxen-Craft & Eric L. Scott

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Amy E. Williams

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Eric L. Scott

Authors
  1. Emily Foxen-Craft
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  2. Amy E. Williams
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  3. Eric L. Scott
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric L. Scott .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Service, Norton Children’s Hospital, Louisville, KY, USA

    Bryan D. Carter

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA

    Bryan D. Carter

  3. Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kristin A. Kullgren

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Foxen-Craft, E., Williams, A.E., Scott, E.L. (2020). The Problem of Pain: Chronic Pain. In: Carter, B.D., Kullgren, K.A. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35598-2_13

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