Chronic pain and health-related quality of life in women with autism and/or ADHD: a prospective longitudinal study

Asztély, K., Kopp, S., Gillberg, C. , Waern, M. and Bergman, S. (2019) Chronic pain and health-related quality of life in women with autism and/or ADHD: a prospective longitudinal study. Journal of Pain Research, 12, pp. 2925-2932. (doi: 10.2147/JPR.S212422) (PMID:31695481) (PMCID:PMC6804669)

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a group of women, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in childhood. Patients and methods: Prospective longitudinal 16–19 years follow-up study of 100 Swedish females diagnosed with ASD and/or ADHD in childhood/adolescence. Seventy-seven of the women were included in the current sub-study, using validated measures of pain perception and quality of life. Results: A large majority of the women (76.6%) reported chronic pain. HRQoL was low overall and lower still for those reporting chronic pain. Women with ADHD who had ongoing treatment with stimulants reported a significant lower prevalence of chronic widespread pain (CWP) than those not treated. Conclusion: Comorbidity with chronic pain is common in women with ASD and/or ADHD and important to address in the clinic since it is associated with an already low HRQoL. Treatment for ADHD might reduce the pain in some cases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Healthcare Board, Region Västra Götaland (Hälso- och sjukvårdsstyrelsen) and by the Jane and Dan Olsson Foundation.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gillberg, Professor Christopher
• Authors: Asztély, K., Kopp, S., Gillberg, C., Waern, M., and Bergman, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Journal of Pain Research
• Publisher: Dove Medical Press
• ISSN: 1178-7090
• ISSN (Online): 1178-7090