Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Pain in adults with cerebral palsy : A systematic review

Ryan, Jennifer M. ; Burke, Jessica ; Byrne, Rachel ; Capellari, Emily ; Harvey, Adrienne ; O'Connell, Neil E. ; Omichinski, Donna ; Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet LU orcid and Peterson, Mark (2025) In Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 67(7). p.854-874
Abstract

Aim: To describe the prevalence and incidence of pain, identify prognostic factors for pain, determine psychometric properties of tools to assess pain, and evaluate effectiveness of interventions for reducing pain among adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Six databases were searched to identify studies published since 1990 in any language that met eligibility criteria defined for each objective. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two independent reviewers. Results: Sixty-three studies were identified; 47 reporting prevalence, 28 reporting prognostic factors, four reporting psychometric properties, five evaluating intervention effectiveness. Pain prevalence ranged from 24% to 89%. Prevalence was higher among adults... (More)

Aim: To describe the prevalence and incidence of pain, identify prognostic factors for pain, determine psychometric properties of tools to assess pain, and evaluate effectiveness of interventions for reducing pain among adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Six databases were searched to identify studies published since 1990 in any language that met eligibility criteria defined for each objective. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two independent reviewers. Results: Sixty-three studies were identified; 47 reporting prevalence, 28 reporting prognostic factors, four reporting psychometric properties, five evaluating intervention effectiveness. Pain prevalence ranged from 24% to 89%. Prevalence was higher among adults with CP than in adults without it. Communication function, sex, and age were prognostic factors for pain prevalence. Numerical, verbal, and pictorial rating scales were valid for assessing pain intensity in adults with CP. Pharmacological and surgical interventions had no effect on pain. An active lifestyle and sports intervention reduced pain in adults with CP compared with usual care. Interpretation: Many adults with CP experience pain, although prevalence estimates vary considerably. The quality of evidence for prognostic factors and interventions is very low to low. There is a lack of evidence about effective pain management among adults with CP.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
author collaboration
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
volume
67
issue
7
pages
21 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85218065345
  • pmid:39937705
ISSN
0012-1622
DOI
10.1111/dmcn.16254
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
41a6dc0f-36bd-4c52-82b2-54e614d0d0ad
date added to LUP
2025-07-04 08:48:41
date last changed
2025-07-05 03:00:10
@article{41a6dc0f-36bd-4c52-82b2-54e614d0d0ad,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: To describe the prevalence and incidence of pain, identify prognostic factors for pain, determine psychometric properties of tools to assess pain, and evaluate effectiveness of interventions for reducing pain among adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Six databases were searched to identify studies published since 1990 in any language that met eligibility criteria defined for each objective. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two independent reviewers. Results: Sixty-three studies were identified; 47 reporting prevalence, 28 reporting prognostic factors, four reporting psychometric properties, five evaluating intervention effectiveness. Pain prevalence ranged from 24% to 89%. Prevalence was higher among adults with CP than in adults without it. Communication function, sex, and age were prognostic factors for pain prevalence. Numerical, verbal, and pictorial rating scales were valid for assessing pain intensity in adults with CP. Pharmacological and surgical interventions had no effect on pain. An active lifestyle and sports intervention reduced pain in adults with CP compared with usual care. Interpretation: Many adults with CP experience pain, although prevalence estimates vary considerably. The quality of evidence for prognostic factors and interventions is very low to low. There is a lack of evidence about effective pain management among adults with CP.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ryan, Jennifer M. and Burke, Jessica and Byrne, Rachel and Capellari, Emily and Harvey, Adrienne and O'Connell, Neil E. and Omichinski, Donna and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet and Peterson, Mark}},
  issn         = {{0012-1622}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{854--874}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology}},
  title        = {{Pain in adults with cerebral palsy : A systematic review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16254}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/dmcn.16254}},
  volume       = {{67}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}