Pain coping strategies in children with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome: correlation with pain, physical function, and psychological distress.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to describe the coping strategies used by children with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS), and 2) to examine how pain coping relates to measures of pain, disability/function, psychological distress, and pain behavior.

METHODS

Sixteen children with JPFS completed the Child Version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ-C), the visual analog scale for pain, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire modified for children, the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Subjects also also underwent pain behavior observation. Pearson's product moment correlations were conducted to examine the relationship of coping to measures of pain and disability.

RESULTS

The Pain Control and Rational Thinking composite factor score on the CSQ-C correlated with measures of pain severity, functional disability, and psychological distress. Results supported the internal reliability of the CSQ-C in assessing pain coping.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the CSQ-C may provide a reliable measure for assessing variations in pain coping in JPFS patients. Behavioral interventions aimed at increasing the perception of pain control may be beneficial in treating JPFS.