Andrew Collins

All Publications

• A psychometric investigation of performance-based and self-report measures in a pediatric population with chronic pain: How well do these measures work? PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation Williams, S. E., Crowley, S. L., Collins, A. B., Pruitt, D. W., John, A., Samuel, N. D., Deet, E. T., Szabova, A., Homan, K. J. 2026

  Abstract

  Traditional rehabilitation measures, such as the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM II), designed to measure the need for assistance and severity of disability in children with developmental disabilities, may not be an optimal indicator of physical function among pediatric patients with chronic pain undergoing rehabilitation. A better understanding of the ability of physical outcome measures to detect change over time would improve evaluation of patient response to pain interventions such as intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT).To investigate the responsiveness to intervention of commonly used functional assessments among pediatric patients with pain undergoing IIPT.This retrospective cohort study collected self-reported and performance-based measures at admission and discharge from an IIPT program. The institutional review board approved study procedures.IIPT program in an inpatient pediatric rehabilitation unit at a major midwestern children's hospital in the United States.Demographics and clinical outcomes from 210 patients admitted between January 2014 and December 2022 were abstracted from the medical record. Patients were 9-19 years old (average age = 15), 75% were female, and 91% were White. The most common diagnosis was amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (26%).Patients attended an IIPT program for an average of 17 days and completed measures at admission and discharge.Four performance-based measures, WeeFIM II, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), 30-second step test (30SST), grip strength, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and one self-report measure, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).Self-reported COPM and performance-based 6MWT and 30SST scores showed the greatest responsiveness to intervention. The WeeFIM II and BOT-2 scores were the least responsive to intervention.The COPM, 6MWT, 30SST were the most responsive measures to intervention, capturing improvement among children with chronic pain completing an IIPT program; the WeeFIM II and BOT-2 were the least responsive measures to intervention for this population.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pmrj.70152

  View details for PubMedID 42152171

• Unequal burden: chronic pain disparities in sexual and gender minority adolescents. Pain Harrison, L. E., Berger, A. S., Hess, C. W., Ma, R. S., Simons, L. E., Wicksell, R. K., Friedman, E., Borucki, A., Collins, A., Goodin, B. R. 2025

  Abstract

  Sexual and gender minoritized youth (SGMY) face unique psychosocial stressors that may contribute to mental and physical health disparities. A recent socioecological-biopsychosocial model suggests that minority stress disrupts psychological and physiological processes, increasing vulnerability to chronic pain in these youth. However, little is known about how chronic pain manifests in SGMY. This study utilized secondary analysis of cross-sectional data and examined sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in youth with chronic pain, comparing pain-related outcomes (psychological and physical functioning) between SGMY and cisgender, heterosexual youth (CHY). In addition, we evaluated the indirect effects of psychological distress on pain-related outcomes. Participants included 382 youth (Mage = 15.41). Sexual and gender minoritized youth (25.4%) were identified using the current best-practice assessment of SOGI. Sexual and gender minoritized youth reported significantly greater pain interference, mobility impairment, fatigue, and sleep impairment compared with CHY (all P < 0.01), despite no differences in pain severity or duration. Analyses of indirect effects revealed that psychological distress (ie, symptoms of depression and anxiety) may partially account for group differences, with the strongest contribution observed for pain interference. However, differences in physical functioning remained even after accounting for distress, suggesting additional factors (eg, minority stress) may contribute to disparities. These findings underscore the importance of routine, inclusive assessment of SOGI and highlight the disproportionate functional burden of pain in SGMY. Understanding the physiological and psychological impact of minority stress is needed to inform inclusive, affirming pain care and advocate for systemic change to reduce disparities in pediatric chronic pain.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003874

  View details for PubMedID 41380095

• Efficacy of aprepitant for refractory pruritus in patients with epidermolysis bullosa and atopic dermatitis: A retrospective study PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY Hartzell, C. J., Szabova, A., Collins, A. B., Morel, A. N., Mijatovic, D., Goldschneider, K. R. 2024

  Abstract

  At a single-center pediatric hospital, the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant was used to treat refractory pruritus in epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and atopic dermatitis (AD).Thirty-seven patients were included (24 EB patients, 13 AD patients), ages 10 months to 37 years.58% (14/24) of patients with EB and 85% (11/13) of patients with AD reported aprepitant was effective in decreasing their pruritus, with age-related differences in efficacy observed in EB patients, and access to the medication by insurance denial or availability of the drug as a barrier to use.Aprepitant shows promise in controlling refractory pruritus in pediatric EB and AD patients and deserves further study.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/pde.15704

  View details for Web of Science ID 001275953500001

  View details for PubMedID 39049669