A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention for Parents of Youth with Chronic Pain: Development, Feasibility, and Preliminary Effectiveness

• Published in: Clinical practice in pediatric psychology 2021-06, Vol.9 (2), p.145-155
• Main Authors: Lee, Soeun, Edwards, Kim, McMurtry, C. Meghan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chronic Pain; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Family Intervention; Female; Group Development; Group Intervention; Human; Male; Outpatient Treatment; Pain Management; Parents; Pediatrics
• ISSN: 2169-4826; 2169-4834
• DOI: 10.1037/cpp0000385

Background: Caregiving for a youth with chronic pain is associated with unique stressors. Parents can play important roles for youth coping and functional outcomes, although parents often report uncertainty about how to support their youth and may benefit from learning evidence-based strategies. However, few parent-targeted interventions for pediatric chronic pain exist, particularly delivered within a group format. Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the development of a parent-targeted group intervention within an outpatient interdisciplinary pediatric chronic pain clinic and to assess preliminary feasibility and effectiveness. Method: The development and content of the intervention are described in detail. Feasibility was assessed via enrollment, attendance, and attrition. Effectiveness was assessed via parent self-reported responses to pain and psychological flexibility (PF) before and after treatment. Results: Seventy parents consented and participated in the 5-week group intervention (2 hr/session). Preliminary results demonstrated adequate feasibility, with attendance rates at 61.4% and attrition rates at 24.3%. After treatment, there were significant moderate- to large-sized decreases in 3 of 4 parent behaviors assessed (protectiveness, monitoring, minimizing) and large-sized increases in PF. Conclusions: This group intervention for parents can produce positive changes in self-reported parent behavior and PF and may be a feasible way to intervene within an outpatient interdisciplinary setting. Implications for Impact StatementParents play important roles for supporting coping and functional outcomes in youth with chronic pain, although parents report uncertainty over how to best support their youth and may benefit from learning evidence-based strategies. This study suggests that a relatively brief parent-targeted group intervention (5 weeks, 2 hr/week) may help promote psychological flexibility and reduce unhelpful parent behaviours that may reinforce pain.