An encouraging squeeze of the hand and emotional support help young patients. © Prostock-studio/stock.adobe.com (modified)

How do expectations influence the pain experienced by children and adolescents?

Project A05
Team

Parents know from everyday life that the intensity of pain felt by children and the success of treatment depend on many factors. The positive and negative expectations of the child can be crucial. How do these expectations develop and what role do previous experiences play? Does the mother, as a trusted relation, have any influence? And do these expectations persist if the pain is treated in a different way? This project explores how treatment expectations change the pain experienced by children, taking into account the effect of previous treatment experiences, age and social context.

Research summary

Positive and negative expectations and the pain experienced by children and adolescents

This project investigates the effects of treatment expectations in healthy children and adolescents. Two studies will examine a) the analgesic and hyperalgesic effects of positive and negative treatment expectations and the modulating role of a trusted relationship and b) the clinically relevant question of whether and to what extent previous treatment experiences influence future treatment expectations and effects, and whether these apply to other forms of treatment. MRI will be used to investigate the modulating influence of brain development on the effect of positive and negative treatment expectations in children and adolescents.