Project Description:
Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain problems increase dramatically in the adolescent years, with wide impact and high direct and indirect healthcare costs. Unfortunately, adolescents with chronic MSK pain are likely to become adults with chronic MSK pain, and also suffer from high levels of negative consequences, including disability, poor quality of life, and poor psychosocial functioning. In the adolescent developmental period, acute MSK pain complaints (most commonly spine, knee, and foot or ankle pain) account for a large portion of physician visits, and recent studies estimate that about 30-35% of these youth transition from acute pain to a chronic pain state. However, mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain states are poorly understood, particularly in adolescents. While there are a number of known biopsychosocial risk factors for the development of chronic pain, better mechanistic understanding of transition between acute and chronic pain states is crucial for the development of novel therapeutics and preventative interventions designed to stop chronic pain before it becomes disabling and costly. The proposed study will examine both key neurobiological and biopsychosocial risk factors that contribute to the development of chronic MSK pain in adolescents. Participants will include adolescents, ages 11-17, with n=200 acute MSK pain and a sample of n=80 age- and sex-matched pain-free controls, as well as a participating parent. These adolescents will be followed an additional three times (every 3 months over a 1 year period) to examine pain persistence and pain-related impacts over time. Determining mechanisms and moderators of risk during this developmental transition will provide critical information for interventions aimed at reducing risk for chronic pain in youth.
