Does diagnosis matter? Evaluating impact of pediatric chronic pain diagnosis on pain and function

PURPOSE: This study aimed to A) evaluate changes in pain and function following an outpatient interdisciplinary pain management program (IPMP) for children with different chronic pain conditions and B) explore differences in pain and function at baseline and discharge for different diagnoses. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for 488 children who participated in an outpatient IPMP. Children’s pain and physical, social, and emotional functioning were assessed at initial evaluation, discharge, and one-to-two-month follow-up. Patients were stratified by diagnosis (complex regional pain syndrome [CRPS], headache, musculoskeletal pain, visceral pain, and widespread pain) to evaluate differences in pain and functioning at baseline and discharge. RESULTS: Children’s pain and function improved from initial evaluation to discharge. Those with headache and musculoskeletal pain exhibited better baseline physical and emotional functioning than other diagnostic groups (p = 0.03; p = 0.005; p = 0.002; p = 0.04). Children with CRPS displayed the worst baseline physical functioning (p = 0.003). Those with widespread pain exhibited the worst baseline emotional functioning at both initial evaluation and discharge (p = 0.009; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Children with CRPS, visceral pain, and widespread pain undergoing treatment in an IPMP exhibited the most impaired baseline functioning, while those with musculoskeletal pain and headache were least impaired. All exhibited improvements in pain and function following the IPMP.