Empirically supported treatments in pediatric psychology: disease- related pain

Objective: To evaluate psychological literature addressing interventions for disease-related pain in children. Methods: We conducted a literature review of all studies using psychological interventions for pain stem- ming directly from disease process as well as pain secondary to disease treatment. Results: Few empirically validated psychological approaches to the treatment of disease pain were found. Although existing intervention studies do not meet Chambless criteria, some promising strategies were identified. Conclusions: Clinical evidence suggests that cognitive-behavioral strategies for the management of disease pain in children are promising and manualized, controlled intervention studies are needed.