Pain is an increasingly common symptom in children and adolescents. Once recurrent pain leads to pain-related disability that affects a child's functional, emotional and social well-being, it is considered a chronic pain disorder. Such disorders can develop as the primary condition or be due to a well-defined underlying physical condition, such as migraine or juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Approximately 5% of the paediatric population suffers from a severe chronic pain disorder. Its treatment in childhood and adolescence is complex and needs to address a variety of biological, psychological and social influencing factors.

This treatment manual describes the inpatient treatment programme of one of the world's largest inpatient treatment facilities for chronic pain management in children and adolescents - the German Paediatric Pain Centre. The guidance provided is also applicable to outpatient pain management or day-hospital approaches.

The manual examines the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostics and treatment principles in detail, explains the criteria for inpatient treatment, and describes the structure and organisation of a tertiary treatment centre for chronic pain. It also presents therapeutic interventions, such as dealing with "Black Thoughts", "Distraction ABC", "Stress Day" and the "Pain Provocation Technique" with the aid of numerous examples of pain management and health care from a clinical perspective.

Lastly, it discusses the special features of pain treatment for children and adolescents with comorbid psychological disorders, family difficulties or defined somatic diseases, as well as pharmacological and interventional treatment options.

PART I - The Basis of Paediatric Pain Treatment: Epidemiology of Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents

Pain Disorder: A Bio-psycho-social Disease
Diagnostics of Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents
The Basics of Treating Pain Disorders
PART II - The In-Patient Paediatric Pain Treatment Program:
Howto Decide on In- or Outpatient Pain Therapy
Organisation and Procedure of Inpatient Admission
Structure and Organisation of Inpatient Pain Therapy
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 1
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 2
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 3
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 4 (Integrating the Family System)
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 5 (Pharmacological Treatment, Physical Therapy and Other Optional Interventions)
Inpatient Pain Therapy: Module 6 (Planning the Time After Discharge)
PART III - Additional Considerations: Specifics of Pain Therapy in Children with Mental Health Disorders, Severe Somatic Diseases, or Psychosocial Stress Factors
Practical Tools and Working Sheets
Is It All Worthwhile? - Effectiveness of Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment.