Background: A prospective study controlled for sex and age was conducted evaluating the success of a 3-week inpatient pain therapy after 3, 6 and 12 months for 200 children and adolescents severely disabled due to chronic pain.
Methods: The following validated German questionnaires were used: pain questionnaire (DSF-K/J/E), pain coping inventory (PPCI-R), anxiety questionnaire (AFS) and depression questionnaire (DIKJ). After an intention-to-treat analysis unifactorial und multifactorial variance analyses were conducted. A significance level of p<0.01 was used.
Results: Durable improvements were observed for average pain intensity, pain disability, days absent from school, depression and for passive and interaction-based pain coping strategies 3 months after finishing inpatient pain therapy. On the other hand general anxiety and school aversion were only reduced at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Girls reported more pain in general and during follow-up. Younger children relied in general more on others when dealing with their pain.
Conclusion: An inpatient pain therapy can help children and adolescents severely disabled due to chronic pain not only in the short term but also in the long term.