(381) Examining the Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Multidisciplinary Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Outcomes

Abstract

Prior research has revealed a high rate (over 80%) of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the outpatient pediatric chronic pain population. Furthermore, the sub-population of youth with chronic pain reporting a history of ACEs shows increased psychosocial impairment (e.g., anxiety, depression). However, the treatment outcomes of youth with chronic pain and a history of ACEs have not been well examined. The current study investigates the effect of ACEs on psychosocial and pain-related treatment outcomes of youth (N=305) engaged in a multidisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program. Outcome measures (e.g., anxiety, depression, functional disability) were given at baseline and discharge from the rehabilitation program. The average stay in the program was four weeks. In the current sample, 59% of youth with chronic pain reported a history of ACEs with 21% reporting two or more ACEs. During the baseline assessment, the youth who reported a history of ACEs also reported significantly higher somatic symptoms (F(2,281)=4.660,p .05). Additionally, the interaction effect of ACEs-by-Time was not found to be significant across baseline and discharge for any outcome (all p's>.05). Results of the current study indicate that a history of ACEs does not negatively affect pain rehabilitation outcomes for this population. However, it is important to note that the rate of patients reporting ACEs in the current study was significantly lower (p