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Pain in persons with cerebral palsy: extension and cross validation
Joyce M Engel1, Mark P Jensen, Amy J Hoffman
1Department of Rehabilitation, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Objective:
To cross-validate and extend the assessment of pain in persons with cerebral palsy (CP).
Design:
Standardized in-person interviews.
Setting:
University medical clinics and local residential and community housing for persons with developmental disabilities.
Participants:
One hundred adults with CP.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Measures of pain intensity, pain interference in daily activities, psychologic function, significance of pain problem, and satisfaction with pain treatment.
Results:
Sixty-seven (67%) subjects reported 1 or more chronic pain problem(s). Low back, hip, and leg pain were most common. Twenty-four percent reported constant pain; 19% reported that pain occurred daily. Mean pain intensity +/- standard deviation over the previous week on an 11-point scale (0, no pain; 10, pain as bad as could be) was 4.08+/-2.25. Minor interference (2.55+/-3.03; scale range, 0-10) from pain with routine daily activities was reported. Responses to the Satisfaction with Life Scale (n=63) indicated only moderate life satisfaction (18.44+/-8.34; scale range, 5-35) among those with 1 or more pain problem(s). Responses to the Rand Mental Health Inventory (n=65; mean score, 60.65+/-20.36) revealed relatively high levels of psychologic distress in those with chronic pain. Consumer satisfaction with pain management care varied, with 32.8% of the subjects reporting dissatisfaction.
Conclusions:
The study findings are consistent with earlier findings concerning pain problems in adults with CP and provide further evidence that pain problems may be overlooked and undertreated in this population.