Are the children of chronic pain patients more likely to develop pain?

Abstract

This article reviews the current evidence on whether the children of chronic pain patients are more likely to develop pain problems than the children of pain-free parents. Genetic factors may have a role in some pain conditions, such as familial hemiplegic migraine and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. However, the literature suggests that in many instances environmental factors are likely to have a significant role and may render children whose parents have chronic pain more vulnerable to experiencing pain themselves. Many studies in this field are compromised by small samples and a reliance on retrospective reports.