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Chronic multisite pain in adolescent girls and boys with emotional and behavioral problems: the Young-HUNT study

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic multisite pain with high disability in relation to emotional or behavioral problems and resilience factors in adolescence. A second aim was to investigate if resilience factors could attenuate the associations between psychiatric symptoms and chronic multisite pain. The study was based on a large cross-sectional study carried out in Norway between 2006 and 2008 and included 7,070 adolescents aged 13–19 years. Chronic multisite pain was defined as pain at least once a week during the last 3 months, scoring high on a disability index, and occurring in three or more locations. Chronic multisite pain was prevalent among adolescents with high scores (>85 %) for anxiety/depression, social anxiety, conduct or attention problems (22.8–31.0 % for girls, 8.8–19.0 % for boys). Several coexistent psychiatric symptoms increased the prevalence of chronic multisite pain for both girls and boys. Resilience factors, including high self-esteem, seldom feeling lonely, and high scores for family cohesion or social competence, were associated with a lower prevalence and markedly attenuated the association between psychiatric symptoms and chronic multisite pain. Psychiatrists should be careful to assess and treat comorbid chronic pain in adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Department of Child and adolescent psychiatry, St Olav’s University Hospital, the Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority (RHA) and the NTNU (Samarbeidsorganet). We thank the adolescents who participated in the Young-HUNT study. The Young-HUNT study is performed in collaboration between the HUNT Research Centre, The Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Nord-Trøndelag County Council.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU), Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, 7489, Trondheim, Norway

    Marit Skrove & Marit S. Indredavik

  2. Department of Public Health and General Practise, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Pål Romundstad

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St Olav’s University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Marit Skrove & Marit S. Indredavik

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  1. Marit Skrove
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  2. Pål Romundstad
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  3. Marit S. Indredavik
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Correspondence to Marit Skrove.

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Skrove, M., Romundstad, P. & Indredavik, M.S. Chronic multisite pain in adolescent girls and boys with emotional and behavioral problems: the Young-HUNT study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 24, 503–515 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0601-4

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