Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Treatment Outcomes in Adults

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are commonly reported by individuals with chronic pain. However, little is known about how ACE exposure influences treatment outcomes. The goal of the current study was to evaluate group and treatment-related differences among adults with varying levels of ACE exposure participating in a pain rehabilitation treatment program.

Adult participants (N=269) were categorized as 0 ACEs (n=65), 1 to 2 ACEs (n=87), or ≥3 ACEs (n=117). Participants completed self-report measures of pain, physical functioning, and psychosocial functioning at intake and discharge from a 10-week interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program.

ACE exposure was frequently endorsed in this sample, with the majority of participants (78.5%) reporting at least 1 form of childhood adversity. Adults in the ≥3 ACEs group reported a greater level of impairment in mental health symptoms and adjustment to chronic pain; however, all groups endorsed treatment improvements and there were no differences in response to treatment. There were also no differences between groups on measures of pain or physical functioning at intake or discharge.

ACE exposure appears common among treatment-seeking adults with chronic pain and is associated with increased clinical complexity. However, adults with and without exposure to ACEs endorsed significant improvements in pain and functioning following participation in an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. This model of treatment may be especially well situated to address the biopsychosocial contributions to pain among those with a history of adversity.