Children in Pain: Clinical and Research Issues From a Developmental Perspective

Our present understanding of the psychosocial aspects of pain in children is reviewed in this monograph by leading scientists and practitioners. The contributions are integrated within a developmental perspective to provide an introduction to the conceptual and methodological tools necessary for comprehension of new work in the field. This volume offers a survey of major new developments in the area of pediatric pain and points out the directions in which clinical work and conceptualization are moving. Children in Pain argues consistently and persuasively that both models of pain assessment, intervention techniques, and research designs must demonstrate a sophisticated appreciation for developmental considerations. Topics explored include assessment of pediatric pain; coping and adaptation in children's pain; developmental issues among infants and toddlers and among preschool and school-age children, as well as among adolescents; recurrent abdominal pain; burn injury and treatment; chronic and recurrent pain in hemophilia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and sickle cell disease; developmental aspects of the biobehavioral treatment of migraine in childhood; and helping children cope with painful medical procedures.