title: A psychological intervention for pediatric chest pain: development and open trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common and persistent problem for children and adolescents; typically there is no clear medical cause. To date, no psychological intervention has been studied for chest pain in a pediatric sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  (a) We developed a brief psychological treatment for chest pain and associated worry in children and adolescents with NCCP. This program includes psychoeducation, breathing retraining, cognitive coping strategies, and 1 session of parent education and coaching regarding the impact of reinforcement on pain and coping behaviors. (b) We treated 9 youngsters with chronic NCCP, assessing pain, somatization, disability, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and coping. Assessments were conducted before, after, and 6 months following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, there was a significant decrease in chest pain and somatization. Benefits were maintained at 6-month follow-up. There was no decrease in associated psychological symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief psychological treatment for pediatric NCCP is feasible to administer and may help alleviate symptoms of pediatric NCCP. Further study in a randomized trial is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Marcus Campus, Ohayon Behavioral Sciences Complex, Beer Sheva, Israel. joshual@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lipsitz
authors.forename: Merav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D014481:United States