Distress in Adolescents With Chronic Pain: Who is at Risk, When, and Why

Overview

Living with chronic pain can be tough for any young person. But while some young people may experience distressing thoughts, others may not. No young person should face these problems alone. So, it's important to better understand who might be more vulnerable to distress, when, and why. That way, healthcare professionals can be there for vulnerable youth when they need it most. In total, 70 young people with chronic pain (aged 12-19 years) will be invited to take part. Over a 30-day period, they will answer a few questions about their pain and feelings five times per day (experience sampling part) and complete three detailed surveys (at the start, in the middle, and at the end). This will help the investigators better understand how feelings of pain and distress might change over hours, days, and weeks. Plus, it might reveal which psychological and social factors might bring about these changes. Answering these questions is vital as it will help healthcare professionals make sure vulnerable young people get the right care at the right time.

This study aims to address the following research questions: * What are the factors (moderators) that determine why some adolescents with chronic pain may experience suicidal distress but not others, and through which mechanisms (mediators) does chronic pain increase such distress over time? Primary objective: The investigators will use the repeated survey data (at day 0, 15, and 31): * To explore the extent to which pain interference (at baseline) is associated with suicidal distress (primarily hopelessness and entrapment, and secondarily suicidal and self-harm thoughts and behaviours), measured repeatedly over time. Secondary objectives: The investigators will use the experience sampling data (5x day/30 days: day 1-30) to explore: * how the relationship between pain interference and suicidal distress unfolds in the patient's daily life. * the moderators (collected at baseline, survey data) that determine why some young people with chronic pain may experience suicidal distress over time, but not others. * the mechanisms (experience sampling items) underpinning the potential relationship between pain interference and suicidal distress in the patient's daily life.

Conditions