Posttraumatic Stress in Children After Injury: The Role of Acute Pain and Opioid Medication Use

Conclusions Pain during hospitalization may increase susceptibility for persistent PTSS above and beyond the influence of other empirical risk factors. Findings suggest that pain assessment may be a useful addition to pediatric PTSS screening tools and highlight the need for additional research on pharmacological secondary prevention approaches. Given that inadequate pain control and persistent PTSS each hinder recovery and long-term functioning, better understanding of interactions between acute pain and PTSS after injury is essential for improving screening, prevention, and early intervention efforts.
Source: Pediatric Emergency Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research