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. 2022 Apr 28;6(2):143-152.
doi: 10.1080/24740527.2022.2038032. eCollection 2022.

Extending the Biopsychosocial Conceptualisation of Chronic Post Surgical Pain in Children and Adolescents: The Family Systems Perspective

Toby Newton-John  1
Affiliations

Extending the Biopsychosocial Conceptualisation of Chronic Post Surgical Pain in Children and Adolescents: The Family Systems Perspective

Toby Newton-John. Can J Pain. .

Abstract
in English, French

A substantial number of children and adolescents undergoing surgical procedures, as many as 40% in some estimates, will go on to develop chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Because of the significant negative impact of CPSP on social and emotional milestones, as well as the child's quality of life, it is important to identify modifiable factors that are associated with the onset and maintenance of the condition. Research has demonstrated that parent factors can play a role in pediatric chronic pain; however, there has been little examination of parent and family influences on the transition to CPSP. Family systems theories, which consider the influence of the family unit overall on the behavior of individuals members, have been applied to the eating disorders literature for decades. This narrative review proposes a novel application of family systems theory to pediatric CPSP and, in particular, highlights the role that parental dyadic factors may play in the development and maintenance of persistent pain following surgery in children and adolescents.

Un nombre considérable d'enfants et d'adolescents subissant des interventions chirurgicales, allant jusqu'à 40 % selon certaines estimations, développera une douleur chronique post-chirurgicale (DCPC). En raison des répercussions négatives importantes de la DCPC sur les jalons sociaux et émotionnels, ainsi que sur la qualité de vie de l'enfant, il est important de déterminer les facteurs modifiables qui sont associés à l'apparition et au maintien de la maladie. La recherche a démontré que les facteurs parentaux peuvent jouer un rôle dans la douleur chronique pédiatrique; cependant, l’influence des parents et de la famille sur la transition vers la DCPC a été peu étudiée. Les théories des systémes familiaux, qui étudient l'influence de l'unité familiale dans son ensemble sur le comportement de chacun de ses membres, sont appliquées à la littérature sur les troubles de l'alimentation depuis des décennies. Cette revue narrative propose une application novatrice de la théorie des systémes familiaux à la DCPC pédiatrique. En particulier, elle met en évidence le rôle que les facteurs dyadiques parentaux peuvent jouer dans le développement et le maintien d'une douleur persistante aprés une intervention chirurgicale chez les enfants et les adolescents.

Keywords: Family; biopsychosocial; chronic pain; pediatric pain; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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