Background & Aims

Self-report is considered the gold standard in the assessment of pain, however self-report measures are not always accessible or feasible for use when communication difficulties are present. As a result pain is often unrecognised and untreated in autistic children. The Feeling Better pain management programme is a cognitive behaviour therapy-based pain management manual which was developed for carers of individual with chronic pain and intellectual disabilities (McManus & McGuire 2010). Feeling Better has been developed into an internet-delivered pain management programme for children and their parents. This research has used public/patient involvement (autistic children and their parents) in the development of ‘Feeling Better ASD’. The aim of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the Feeling Better ASD as a pain management intervention for autistic children who have difficulties with pain.

Methods

Pilot and Feasibility study to examine the effectiveness of the Feeling Better ASD programme as a pain management intervention for autistic children (with or without Intellectual Disability).

Results

Feeling Better ASD provides inclusive education for autistic children and their parents by teaching the skill of communicating pain (location and severity) and also learning skills and techniques such as relaxation, activity pacing, distraction skills to help them cope with pain.

Conclusions

Feeling Better ASD provides inclusive education for autistic children and their parents by teaching the skill of communicating pain (location and severity) and also learning skills and techniques such as relaxation, activity pacing, distraction skills to help them cope with pain.

References

Kennedy, S., O’Higgins, S., Sarma, K., Willig, C., & McGuire, B. (2014). Evaluation of a group based cognitive behavioural therapy programme for menstrual pain management in young women with intellectual disabilities: Protocol for a mixed methods controlled clinical trial. BMC Women’s Health, 14(1), BMC Women’s Health, 12/2014, Vol.14 (1). doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-14-107.

McGuire, B. E., Daly, P., & Smyth, F. (2010). Chronic pain in people with an intellectual disability, under-recognised and under-treated. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54, 240–245.

McManus, S., Treacy, M., & McGuire, B. (2014). Cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic pain in people with an intellectual disability: A case series using components of the Feeling Better programme. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 58(3), 296-306.

McManus, S., & McGuire, B.E. (2010). Feeling Better: a manual for carers working with people who have intellectual disabilities and chronic pain. Brighton: Pavilion Publishing Ltd; 2010.

Moore D. J. (2015). Acute pain experience in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: a review. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 19(4), 387–399. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361314527839.

Walsh, M., Morrison, T., & McGuire, B. E. (2011). Chronic pain in adults with an intellectual disability, prevalence, impact and health service use based on caregiver report. Pain, 152, 1951–1957.

Whitney DG, Shapiro DN. National prevalence of pain among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. JAMA Paediatr. 2019;173(12):1203-1205. doi:10.1001/jamapediat rics.2019.3826

Presenting Author

Rachel Fitzpatrick

Poster Authors

Rachel Fitzpatrick

MSc

University of Galway

Lead Author

Brian McGuire. BA

M.Clin.Psych

University of Galway, Ireland

Lead Author

Helena Lydon. B.A.,H.Dip.,M.A.,PhD

University of Galway, Ireland

Lead Author

Topics

  • Pain in Special Populations: Intellectual, Developmental, and Functional Disability