Examining the Relationship between Mental Health and Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review Study

Long-term pain experience and pain-related time beliefs are key factors for understanding pain experience and patients' psychological distress. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mental health and chronic pain in children and adolescents.

In this review research, using the English keywords chronic pain, chronic back pain, chronic headache, abdominal pain, neck pain, multiple pain, musculoskeletal pain, children, adolescents, and mental health, databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ISI, Scopus, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched in the period 2000 (from January) to 2022 (until November).

The studies conducted showed that the prevalence of chronic pain was 4%-60% in children and adolescents, and abdominal pain, headache, back pain, and multiple pains were more common. Patients with depression, anxiety, fear, stress, pain catastrophizing, emotional ataxia, psychological distress, aggression, behavioral problems, and cognitive disorders had more severe chronic pain. On the other hand, factors such as favorable socio-economic status, quality of life related to health, good sleep quality, social communication, physical activity, resilience, and cognitive flexibility reduced pain and accelerated the treatment process of patients with chronic pain.

The obtained results indicated a significant association between mental health and chronic pain in children and adolescents. In this context, psychology and counseling centers of schools should provide training to increase the quality of life-related to the health and resilience of children and adolescents.