Chronic pain in people with an intellectual disability: under‐recognised and under‐treated?

Abstract

Given their increased risk for chronic pain, we concluded that pain in the ID population may be under-recognised and under-treated, especially in those with impaired capacity to communicate about their pain.

Pain: a prevalent feature in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis. Results of a cross‐sectional national survey

“…None of the very few previous studies that assessed pain in MPS included patients with an intellectual disability. Like other researchers (McGuire et al 2010;Walsh et al 2011), we realize that it is extremely difficult to recognize and accurately assess pain in patients with intellectual disabilities. However, while several studies have examined this issue and have shown that the experience of pain of patients with intellectual disabilities does not differ from the general population, they also state that pain in this patient group is generally underestimated in daily practice (Breau et al 2002;Breau et al 2003).…”

Pain in people with an intellectual disability

“…McGuire et al [19] found that chronic pain was reported by 13% of their sample and was 2-2.5 times more prevalent in people with mild intellectual disabilities than in those with more severe classifications of disability. This was interpreted as reflecting the fact that individuals with a mild level of disability can typically verbalize and articulate their pain experience, so that their carers were aware of their pain problem.…”

“…Walsh et al [14 & ] summarized some of the risk factors which include low levels of physical activity [15], increased risk of accidental injury [16], reduced involvement in health decision-making [17], more physical comorbidities [18] and reduced use of services for the management of pain [19]. There is also an increased prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in conditions that are associated with intellectual disability, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome and Williams syndrome.…”

“…As many people with an intellectual disability are dependent on their carers for making the decision to access health services and for ongoing management of their healthcare needs [19], it is important to investigate the carers' perceptions, views and understanding of the service users' chronic pain. In a study regarding the ability of parents to recognize and respond to pain in their children with Down syndrome [38], parents reported using verbal and behavioural cues through the child's use of words to express pain, pointing or showing pain location, crying, changes in usual activities and seeking closeness to the parent.…”

Self-Reporting Tool On Pain in People with Intellectual Disabilities (STOP-ID!): a Usability Study

“…The challenges in accurately assessing pain in adults with intellectual disabilities could result in under-treatment of pain (Baldridge & Andrasik, 2010;Boerlage et al, 2013;McGuire, Daly, & Smyth, 2010). This is particularly alarming: like all individuals, people with intellectual disabilities are in need of prompt medical attention in the event of illnesses and accidents.…”