Managing Chronic Pain in Special Populations with Emphasis on Pediatric, Geriatric, and Drug Abuser Populations

Research has typically focused on otherwise healthy adults with chronic pain conditions; however there are distinct groups of individuals with increased vulnerability for chronic pain. These groups are defined by age and life circumstances associated with increased risk of injury and less effective pain treatment. Chronic pain is challenging to manage and a significant health issue in pediatric, geriatric, and drug abuser populations. This article focuses on psychosocial, physiologic, and genetic mechanisms underlying chronic pain in these populations, and highlights the need for interdisciplinary teams to manage chronic pain with personalized multimodal approaches for those with greatest risk.