The Biopsychosocialspiritual Impact of Chronic Pain, Chronic Illness, and Physical Disabilities in Adolescence

The effects of chronic pain, chronic illness, and physical disability in adolescence are diverse, often influencing every facet of an adolescent’s life. The biopsychosocialspiritual model provides a framework within which to conceptualize the experience of the adolescent with chronic pain and can be very helpful in guiding clinical care including creating comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment plans. Literature on chronic pain often focuses on pediatric or adult populations and does not lend information on how to provide evidence-based treatment for the adolescent in chronic pain. The study of chronic pain in adolescence has been largely limited by small samples, cross-sectional and observational designs, and studies that intertwine findings with pediatric and adult populations. Herein, we review the literature on the biopsychosocialspiritual experience of the adolescent with chronic pain.