How Psychological and Nonpharmacological Treatment Modalities Reduce the Disease Burden of Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes in Pediatrics

he prevalence of pediatric chronic musculoskeletal pain ranges from 8.5% to 40%.1 This literature review examined the treatment of amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS), which is a general term that represents a spectrum of pain disorders for patients who may not satisfy specific diagnostic criteria.2 Specifically, sources were analyzed to compare the efficacy of individual components in the nonpharmacological, interdisciplinary treatment of AMPS against pain medications. These components included cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (CBT), physical therapy (PT), as well as occupational therapy (OT). There is limited information that assesses these components individually, but there is ample evidence that when used in conjunction, a multidisciplinary approach to AMPS is successful. In particular, the functional disability index (FDI) is indicative of decreased disease burden found in the nonpharmacologic treatments investigated. This review demonstrates the efficacy and importance of CBT, PT, and OT in AMPS treatment.