55.2 CBT: BIOBEHAVIORAL TOOLS FOR PEDIATRIC PAIN MANAGEMENT DURING COVID-19

Abstract

The goal of this session is to outline evidence and tools for a psychologically informed approach to treating pediatric pain during COVID-19. This presentation will highlight recent research on biobehavioral treatments like CBT and offer resources for healthcare professionals working with youth living with pain—particularly critical given that youth are cut off from social support networks, treatment teams, and typical coping strategies during this pandemic. In this session, a pediatric pain psychologist with expertise in biobehavioral treatments will review evidence for youth-centric behavioral interventions that can be used in inpatient and outpatient settings both virtually and in person. We will discuss the biopsychosocial model of pain and health, pain neuroscience, fundamentals of CBT for pediatric chronic pain, and how healthcare providers can best support children in pain during COVID-19. Recent research indicates that youth living with chronic health conditions are at high risk of negative mental and physical health consequences during COVID-19. CBT and other biobehavioral approaches have evidence of effectiveness, can be useful tools for pain management, and can be accessed virtually while families continue to shelter in place. Decades of research confirm that effective pain treatment requires a biopsychosocial approach targeting maladaptive coping behaviors, cognitive processes, emotions, unhealthy family systems, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle issues like sleep and nutrition. However, pediatric pain continues to be treated primarily—and often exclusively—biomedically, with pills and procedures. Pediatric pain is therefore not being adequately or appropriately managed. This is a particularly difficult time for children living with pain: COVID-19 has cut youth off from peers, social support networks, treatment teams, hobbies, and normal coping mechanisms. CBT has evidence of effectiveness for treating pediatric pain and can be utilized both virtually and in person. It targets brain and body, psychology, and physiology, to change the chronic pain cycle. There are various affordable biopsychosocial resources and tools rooted in science and research that healthcare providers can offer pediatric patients and families.