Information

Related Research Units

Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Research
Perioperative Anesthesia Research

Research Overview

Dr. Sieberg’s research in the area of pediatric pain has included measure development, treatment outcome, and the exploration of biopsychosocial factors contributing to persistent and chronic pain. A major focus of her research is to identify children who demonstrate amplified Central Nervous System processing of pain-related information, and who are at elevated risk for adverse pain-related outcomes and reduced benefits of pain-reducing treatments, as well as the exploration of gene-environment interactions. Dr. Sieberg's research encompasses both pre-clinical and clinical models and has been funded by the Office of Faculty Development at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University, the Noonan Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. She collaborates with colleagues in the Departments of Orthopedics, Adolescent Medicine, and the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center at Boston Children's Hospital as well as at the Boston Center for Endometriosis, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, and the University of Michigan.

Publications

  1. US and UK college students' experiences of living with chronic pain: A qualitative analysis. J Am Coll Health. 2025 Jan 16; 1-7. View Abstract
  2. Symptom flares in women with chronic pelvic pain: Questionnaire study within a cohort study (translational research in pelvic pain (TRiPP)). BJOG. 2024 Dec; 131(13):1832-1840. View Abstract
  3. The long-term impact of cerebellar tumor resection on executive functioning, anxiety, and fear of pain: A mixed methodology pilot study. Appl Neuropsychol Child. 2024 Apr 11; 1-11. View Abstract
  4. Subgroups of pelvic pain are differentially associated with endometriosis and inflammatory comorbidities: a latent class analysis. Pain. 2024 Sep 01; 165(9):2119-2129. View Abstract
  5. Differences in characteristics and use of complementary and alternative methods for coping with endometriosis-associated acyclic pelvic pain across adolescence and adulthood. Front Reprod Health. 2023; 5:1306380. View Abstract
  6. Pelvic pain symptoms and endometriosis characteristics in relation to oxidative stress among adolescents and adults with and without surgically-confirmed endometriosis. F1000Res. 2024; 13:34. View Abstract
  7. A preliminary examination of the effects of childhood abuse and resilience on pain and physical functioning in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Scand J Pain. 2024 01 01; 24(1). View Abstract
  8. Interactive effects of sleep disturbance and opioid use on pain-related interference and physical functioning among patients with chronic low back pain. Pain Med. 2023 Dec 01; 24(12):1396-1398. View Abstract
  9. The mediating effect of social functioning on the relationship between catastrophizing and pain among patients with chronic low back pain. Pain Med. 2023 Nov 02; 24(11):1244-1250. View Abstract
  10. Exploring Comorbidities in Adolescent and Young Adults with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome with and without a Surgical History: A Preliminary Investigation. Children (Basel). 2023 Sep 16; 10(9). View Abstract
  11. Quantitative sensory testing in a magnetic resonance environment: considerations for thermal sensitivity and patient safety. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2023; 4:1223239. View Abstract
  12. Plasma proteomic profiles of pain subtypes in adolescents and young adults with endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2023 08 01; 38(8):1509-1519. View Abstract
  13. Quantitative somatosensory testing of the abdomen: establishing initial reference values across developmental age and biological sex. Pain. 2024 Jan 01; 165(1):115-125. View Abstract
  14. Can pain under anesthesia be measured? Pain-related brain function using functional near-infrared spectroscopy during knee surgery. Neurophotonics. 2023 Apr; 10(2):025014. View Abstract
  15. Comprehensive quantitative sensory testing shows altered sensory function in women with chronic pelvic pain: results from the Translational Research in Pelvic Pain (TRiPP) Study. Pain. 2023 11 01; 164(11):2528-2539. View Abstract
  16. Clinical profiling of specific diagnostic subgroups of women with chronic pelvic pain. Front Reprod Health. 2023; 5:1140857. View Abstract
  17. Pilot Investigation of Somatosensory Functioning and Pain Catastrophizing in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Surgery. Pain Manag Nurs. 2023 02; 24(1):27-34. View Abstract
  18. Altered anterior insula functional connectivity in adolescent and young women with endometriosis-associated pain: Pilot resting-state fMRI study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2022 Nov; 41:80-90. View Abstract
  19. The missing mechanistic link: Improving behavioral treatment efficacy for pediatric chronic pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2022; 3:1022699. View Abstract
  20. Trends in pelvic pain symptoms over 2 years of follow-up among adolescents and young adults with and without endometriosis. Pain. 2023 03 01; 164(3):613-624. View Abstract
  21. Alterations in the structure and function of the brain in adolescents with new daily persistent headache: A pilot MRI study. Headache. 2022 07; 62(7):858-869. View Abstract
  22. Preventing pediatric chronic postsurgical pain: Time for increased rigor. Can J Pain. 2022; 6(2):73-84. View Abstract
  23. Cutting the cord? Parenting emerging adults with chronic pain. Paediatr Neonatal Pain. 2022 Sep; 4(3):136-147. View Abstract
  24. Beyond the Binary: Sexual and Reproductive Health Considerations for Transgender and Gender Expansive Adolescents. Front Reprod Health. 2021; 3:670919. View Abstract
  25. DTI and MTR Measures of Nerve Fiber Integrity in Pediatric Patients With Ankle Injury. Front Pediatr. 2021; 9:656843. View Abstract
  26. Characterizing Pain and Generalized Sensory Sensitivity According to Trauma History Among Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Behav Med. 2021 08 23; 55(9):853-869. View Abstract
  27. Pelvic floor, abdominal and uterine tenderness in relation to pressure pain sensitivity among women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021 Sep; 264:247-253. View Abstract
  28. Migraine: interactions between brain's trait and state. CNS Spectr. 2022 10; 27(5):561-569. View Abstract
  29. A lateralized model of the pain-depression dyad. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 08; 127:876-883. View Abstract
  30. Longitudinal Narrative Analysis of Parent Experiences During Graded Exposure Treatment for Children With Chronic Pain. Clin J Pain. 2021 04 01; 37(4):301-309. View Abstract
  31. Left to themselves: Time to target chronic pain in childhood rare diseases. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 07; 126:276-288. View Abstract
  32. Commentary: Novel Use of Offset Analgesia to Assess Adolescents and Adults with Treatment Resistant Endometriosis-Associated Pain. J Pain Res. 2020; 13:2775-2782. View Abstract
  33. Delivering transformative action in paediatric pain: a Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Commission. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2021 01; 5(1):47-87. View Abstract
  34. Comorbid chronic pain and opioid misuse in youth: Knowns, unknowns, and implications for behavioral treatment. Am Psychol. 2020 09; 75(6):811-824. View Abstract
  35. The Potential Role of Preoperative Pain, Catastrophizing, and Differential Gene Expression on Pain Outcomes after Pediatric Spinal Fusion. Pain Manag Nurs. 2021 02; 22(1):44-49. View Abstract
  36. Walking the Tightrope: A Proposed Model of Chronic Pain and Stress. Front Neurosci. 2020; 14:270. View Abstract
  37. Avoid or engage? Outcomes of graded exposure in youth with chronic pain using a sequential replicated single-case randomized design. Pain. 2020 03; 161(3):520-531. View Abstract
  38. Endometriosis and pain in the adolescent- striking early to limit suffering: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 01; 108:866-876. View Abstract
  39. Longitudinal Evaluation of Pain, Flare-Up, and Emotional Health in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Analyses of the International FOP Registry. JBMR Plus. 2019 Aug; 3(8):e10181. View Abstract
  40. Parent Attributions of Ambiguous Symptoms in Their Children: A Preliminary Measure Validation in Parents of Children with Chronic Pain. Children (Basel). 2018 Jun 13; 5(6). View Abstract
  41. Neuropathic pain drives anxiety behavior in mice, results consistent with anxiety levels in diabetic neuropathy patients. Pain Rep. 2018 May; 3(3):e651. View Abstract
  42. Subliminal (latent) processing of pain and its evolution to conscious awareness. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 05; 88:1-15. View Abstract
  43. Children With Chronic Pain: Response Trajectories After Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Treatment. J Pain. 2018 02; 19(2):207-218. View Abstract
  44. Predicting Postsurgical Satisfaction in Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis: The Role of Presurgical Functioning and Expectations. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Dec; 37(8):e548-e551. View Abstract
  45. Predictors and trajectories of chronic postoperative pain following hip preservation surgery. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2017 Jan; 4(1):45-53. View Abstract
  46. Changes in Maternal and Paternal Pain-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Perceptions across Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Treatment: A Multilevel Modeling Approach. J Pediatr Psychol. 2017 01 01; 42(1):52-64. View Abstract
  47. Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Pain. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2016 08; 23(3):220-223. View Abstract
  48. The Association Between a History of Lifetime Traumatic Events and Pain Severity, Physical Function, and Affective Distress in Patients With Chronic Pain. J Pain. 2016 12; 17(12):1334-1348. View Abstract
  49. Changes in Maternal and Paternal Pain-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Perceptions across Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Treatment: A Multilevel Modeling Approach. J Pediatr Psychol. 2016 Jun 20. View Abstract
  50. Living Life With My Child's Pain: The Parent Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (PPAQ). Clin J Pain. 2015 Jul; 31(7):633-41. View Abstract
  51. Parents--to help or hinder pain memories in children. Pain. 2015 May; 156(5):761-762. View Abstract
  52. Family Beliefs and Interventions in Pediatric Pain Management. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2015 Jul; 24(3):631-45. View Abstract
  53. Changes in sleep habits in adolescents during intensive interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation. J Youth Adolesc. 2015 Feb; 44(2):543-55. View Abstract
  54. Pain prevalence and trajectories following pediatric spinal fusion surgery. J Pain. 2013 Dec; 14(12):1694-702. View Abstract
  55. Connecting parents of children with chronic pain through art therapy. Clin Pract Pediatr Psychol. 2013 Sep 01; 1(3):214-226. View Abstract
  56. Patients with pain are not all the same: considering fear of pain and other individual factors in treatment. Pain Manag. 2013 Mar; 3(2):87-9. View Abstract
  57. Ecological system influences in the treatment of pediatric chronic pain. Pain Res Manag. 2012 Nov-Dec; 17(6):407-11. View Abstract
  58. What does it take? Comparing intensive rehabilitation to outpatient treatment for children with significant pain-related disability. J Pediatr Psychol. 2013 Mar; 38(2):213-23. View Abstract
  59. Changes in willingness to self-manage pain among children and adolescents and their parents enrolled in an intensive interdisciplinary pediatric pain treatment program. Pain. 2012 Sep; 153(9):1863-1870. View Abstract
  60. Anxiety and impairment in a large sample of children and adolescents with chronic pain. Pain Res Manag. 2012 Mar-Apr; 17(2):93-7. View Abstract
  61. Psychological interventions for headache in children and adolescents. Can J Neurol Sci. 2012 Jan; 39(1):26-34. View Abstract
  62. Measuring parent beliefs about child acceptance of pain: a preliminary validation of the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, parent report. Pain. 2011 Oct; 152(10):2294-2300. View Abstract
  63. Do parent protective responses mediate the relation between parent distress and child functional disability among children with chronic pain? J Pediatr Psychol. 2011 Oct; 36(9):1043-51. View Abstract
  64. Children with co-morbid recurrent abdominal pain and anxiety disorders: results from a multiple-baseline intervention study. J Child Health Care. 2011 Jun; 15(2):126-39. View Abstract
  65. The Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FOPQ): assessment of pain-related fear among children and adolescents with chronic pain. J Pain. 2011 Jun; 12(6):677-86. View Abstract

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