An investigation of cold pressor pain in children (part I)

Although the cold pressor model of pain has been used widely in laboratory studies with adults, it has been rarely used to study pain in children, likely because of obvious ethical concerns about the well-being of child participants. The goals of the present investigation were to determinel 1. (1) whether a laboratory study of this type could be conducted in a way that children would find interesting and non-threatening, and 2. (2) whether potentially useful data could be gathered systematically within the framework of such a study. Results of a pilot study in children 6–12 years, with water temperature at 15°C (n = 37) and 12°C (n = 29), indicated that useful data could be obtained from this paradigm. Children's pain ratings increased with duration of arm immersion in the water and with decreasing water temperature. Most importantly, children and their parents perceived the format to be interesting and non-stressful. Continued caution and improved techniques for monitoring the well-being of child participants need to be a part of any future investigations of this type.