title: Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Pain.
abstract: Pain is a complex biopsychosocial experience that is influenced by neurological processes and psychosocial factors. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions have demonstrated evidence for psychological approaches in treating procedural pain and multiple types of chronic pain, including headaches, abdominal pain, and musculoskeletal pain. This article is directed toward clinicians and would provide an overview of cognitive-behavioral therapy, including specific cognitive-behavioral techniques for pediatric pain. A review is provided of preparation and psychoeducation, distraction, exposure and psychological desensitization, relaxation techniques, additional cognitive and behavioral therapy, exercise and alternative options, use of technology, multicomponent approaches, and final considerations in treating acute and chronic pain. It is important to consider multiple characteristics of the child when selecting an intervention for chronic pain, which are reviewed in the article.
authors.affiliation: ⁎Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; (†)Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Atlanta, GA; (‡)Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address: monica.agoston@choa.org.
authors.forename: Anna Monica
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Agoston
authors.affiliation: (†)Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Atlanta, GA; (‡)Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; (§)Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Christine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sieberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods