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Pain Management at
UPMC Health System
The
Pediatric Pain Management Program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Research and experience have shown that the best treatment for a young person's chronic
or recurrent pain combines traditional medical intervention and behavioral pain management
techniques. The Pediatric Pain Management Program at Western
Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC), a specialty hospital of UPMC Health System,
offers behavioral pain management training to children and young adults who suffer from
chronic or recurrent pain. In addition, the program offers education and support for
families. The goals of the program are to:
- relieve pain
- reduce the need to take strong medications for long periods
- increase the ability to cope with pain so that it interferes less in daily activities
The program treats young people who are suffering from all kinds of pain, including the
conditions that are most common in young people:
- migraine headache
- tension headache
- abdominal pain
- limb pain
- pain associated with a medical disease -- such as sickle cell disease, rheumatoid
arthritis or some other autoimmune condition -- and cancer
The Treatment Plan
After a thorough assessment of each client, the staff at the center develop an
individualized plan of care that will address the needs of the young person. A typical
treatment plan consists of eight to 12 sessions. The components of a plan may include:
- relaxation training
- biofeedback
- patient and family education
- coping skills training
- cognitive-behavioral strategies
- self-management strategies
- short-term individual and family counseling
The treatment offered by the Pediatric Pain Management Program is not intended to
replace medical intervention; it is offered as a supplement to ongoing medical care and an
alternative to prolonged use of medication. A thorough medical examination or ongoing
medical treatment is required before a child can enter the program.
Relaxation Training
Relaxation training focuses on reducing the overall level of tension or anxiety
that a child or young adult may be experiencing. This can include techniques such as
progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing skills, and guided imagery. A
program of regular relaxation can help people sleep better, feel energized and relaxed,
and improve concentration and memory. Relaxation is a particularly important skill for
people in pain, because pain often causes tension. Tension, in turn, increases pain.
Learning to relax physically is an effective way of breaking this cycle.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a treatment method that trains patients to monitor physical
signals from the body and respond to the signals by relaxing; the result is decreased
pain. Research has shown that biofeedback is one of the most effective methods available
for the treatment of chronic or recurrent pain. When used to treat tension and migraine
headaches, for example, biofeedback can significantly reduce the intensity and number of
attacks. In addition, learning relaxation techniques through biofeedback helps most people
cope better with the stresses of everyday life. Pediatric Pain Management Program staff
are qualified to offer biofeedback to pediatric and young adult patients.
Patient and Family Education
In classes for patients and their families, Pediatric Pain Management Program
staff teach how pain is transmitted via pain pathways and explain the factors that can
influence the magnitude of pain signals that travel along the pathways. Patients and
families report that understanding these relationships enhances their sense of control
over pain.
Coping Skills Training
The goal of coping skills training is to offer participants different methods of
living with their pain. These methods can include problem-solving techniques, time
management skills, and communications skills.
Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies
A person's thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about pain can influence how he or
she feels and behaves. Cognitive behavioral treatment focuses on helping people develop
ways of thinking, feeling, and responding that are effective in managing pain.
Self-Management Strategies
Learning self-management strategies involves identifying the factors that
contribute to pain (such as stress relating to schoolwork) and exploring methods of coping
with the factors to reduce pain.
Short-Term Individual and Family Counseling
Patterns of family communication and learned patterns of coping can affect pain
perception. When these patterns seem to be unhelpful to the patient or his or her family
members, counseling sessions may help identify these patterns and explore ways of changing
them.
Staff
The Pediatric Pain Management Program at WPIC is staffed by licensed
psychologists and social workers who have received specialized training in biofeedback and
have experience treating children and adolescents who have medical illnesses. The staff is
prepared to help clients and their families cope with a wide range of pain problems. Visit
Pediatric Pain Program: Staff Biographies to learn more about each
staff member.
Payment and Insurance Coverage
Most major insurance carriers cover pain management treatment, including
biofeedback. Other payment arrangements can be made on an individual basis.
Contact the Pediatric Pain Management Program
The Pediatric Pain Management Program
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Department of Behavioral Medicine
Iroquois Building, Suite 600
3600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Telephone: 412-647-2372
Fax: 412-647-4252
E-mail: PPMP@msx.upmc.edu
Directions to Western Psychiatric
Institute and Clinic
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