Psychology for AMPS: Frequently Asked Questions
Children with amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome often need help with the emotional component of the syndrome. Psychologists and psychiatrists can help your child gain new skills to manage and work past their pain to rejoin activities they have enjoyed or to pursue new interests.
Whether your child sees a therapist or physician affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia or someone in your community, these professionals can work with your child’s AMPS team to better support them during recovery and beyond. These professionals can offer your child’s AMPS team insight into successful approaches to motivate your child – and help parents refocus on the child’s activities and interests, rather than their pain.
Why would CHOP need to talk to my child’s or family’s psychologist or psychiatrist?
Here are examples of why it may be helpful for us to talk with other health professionals or psychologists while your child is in the AMPS program:
- To learn more about your child so we can provide a higher quality of care
- To provide education about amplified pain and our treatment approach
- To provide information on the care provided by our team during your child’s time in the AMPS program
- To provide recommendations about how to best support your child after discharge
This is my child’s pain. Why are you recommending family therapy?
When a child in the family experiences amplified pain, the family often reorganizes and changes to care for the child – sometimes leaving the family fragmented.
Family therapy can help family members understand changes that have occurred and provide them (including siblings) with an opportunity to discuss and process their feelings associated with these changes.
It can also help to set new family goals post-AMPS treatment – a family trip for example – that may help everyone move forward in healthy and cohesive ways.
Support Services for AMPS
Learn more about other services offered to AMPS patients at CHOP: