TCFD RESEARCH PARTNER PUBLISHES OP-ED ON CHRONIC PAIN IN YOUTH

In an Op-Ed in the Chicago Tribune, Dr. Kara Margolis, Director of the NYU Pain Research Center and TCFD Research Partner, states that “children and adolescents suffer from chronic pain and mental health disorders in numbers as high as adults,” and that “studies repeatedly show that they are often inadequately treated.” Dr. Margolis further explains, “the implications of untreated chronic pain are profound. It is a leading cause of loss in classroom time and social connection, as well as mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.”

Research indicates that individuals with autism and other complex conditions are at a higher risk of developing chronic or recurrent pain compared to the general population—an issue we witness firsthand at The Center for Discovery. Many of those we care for exhibit behaviors linked to underlying chronic pain, often related to gastrointestinal or other issues. Using our comprehensive HealthE6 model as the foundation for treatment, we observe significant improvements in mood, as well as in the frequency and severity of behaviors.

Read the full Op-Ed here.

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune