2024-02-22 バース大学
<関連情報>
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/empowering-autistic-teens-new-clinician-advice-for-navigating-chronic-pain/
- https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jpepsy/jsae004/7603027
慢性疼痛が自閉症青年に与える影響の理解と効果的な疼痛管理:反射的主題分析による青年と母親のダイアド研究 Understanding the impacts of chronic pain on autistic adolescents and effective pain management: a reflexive thematic analysis adolescent–maternal dyadic study
Abbie Jordan, PhD, Amelia Parchment, PhD, Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert, PhD, DClinPsy, Abigail Jones, PhD, Bethany Donaghy, MSc, Elaine Wainwright, PhD, Hannah Connell, DClinPsy, Joseline Walden, MSc, David J Moore, PhD
Journal of Pediatric Psychology Published:07 February 2024
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsae004
Abstract
Objective
Sensory elements are core features in chronic pain and autism, yet knowledge of the pain experience in autistic adolescents is limited. Little is known regarding how autistic adolescents experience chronic pain, manage their pain and perceive psychological treatment for their chronic pain.
Methods
Ten autistic adolescents (6 female, 3 male, and 1 self-identified as agender) with chronic pain and their mothers (n = 10) participated in semistructured interviews concerning their perceptions of living with chronic pain. Participants were recruited from U.K. pain management services. According to preference, interviews were conducted individually (n = 10) or dyadically (n = 10 participants across 5 dyads). Data were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Two themes were generated. Theme 1, “overstimulated and striving for control” described how adolescents’ experience of heightened sensitivity enhanced adolescents’ levels of anxiety and subsequent pain, illustrating a reciprocal relationship between anxiety, pain, and sensory elements. Theme 2, “not everyone fits the mold” captured how autistic adolescents positioned themselves as distinct from others due to the unique nature of being autistic and living with pain. This sense of difference negatively impacted adolescents’ ability to engage with and benefit from the standard treatment for chronic pain.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that autistic adolescents living with pain experience pain and face barriers to effective pain treatment. Our results identify the need for educational resources to facilitate clinicians to better understand the experience of autistic adolescents living with pain. In turn, such understanding may improve treatment and outcomes in this population.
