Stephen Brown

Research Synopsis

Dr. Brown’s pediatric chronic pain research is focused on the etiology and treatment of complex chronic pain in children and adolescents. His initial thrust was the impact of developmental factors and gender on pain sensitivity, as funded through his CIHR NET grant on “Gender Differences in Child Development:  Vulnerability to Chronic Pain”.  Critical lines of research address the age and gender-based prevalence rates for varied chronic pain problems through clinic and population based epidemiological studies, the long term outcomes and economic impact of childhood chronic pain, the specific physical deficits (from periphery to brain) associated with varied pain conditions that differentially affect children and adolescents using quantitative sensory testing studies and functional MRI procedures, central mechanisms that differentiate patient and normative cohorts, and randomized controlled trials to determine treatment efficacy.   He received approval from Health Canada to conduct a randomized controlled trial of the two main adjuvant analgesics used to treat neuropathic pain in children (neither treatment has been evaluated in a pediatric trial) and for which he is listed as principal investigator.

Dr. Brown was also the principal on-site investigator for our Children’s Sedation Headset that is funded by a NIH grant.  This device allows administration of a controlled mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen and the ability to play a video game while the child undergoes an invasive procedure.

These research initiatives enabled Dr. Brown to be appointed as a Project Director of the Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, the Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children.

Recent Publications

1. Brown, SC Analgesic Guidelines for Infants and Children, In: Gebhart, GF, Schmidt, RF, (eds), Encyclopedia of Pain Second Edition New York, Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg, 2013:133-140 (SRA)
2. Brown, SC Cancer Pain, Palliative Care in Children, In: Gebhart, GF, Schmidt, RF, (eds), Encyclopedia of Pain Second Edition New York, Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg, 2013:452-458 (SRA)
3. Isaac, L, Brown, SC, Tyrrell, J, McGrath, PA Use of Opioids in Children and Adolescents, In: Ballantyne, J (ed) Opioid Decision Making, Oxford University Press, 2013:51-63 (CPA)
4. Stinson J , White M , Isaac L , Campbell F , Brown SC et al Understanding the information and service needs of young adults with chronic pain: perspectives of young adults and their providers The Clinical Journal of Pain 2013;29(7): 600-612  2013 (CRA)
5. Ruskin D, Lalloo C, Brown SC et al Assessing Pain Intensity for Children with Chronic Pain: Validity of the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale in Clinical Practice Pain Res and Management 2014;19(3):141-148 (CPA)
6. Lalloo C, Stinson J, Brown SC et al The Pain-QuILT: Assessing clinical feasibility of a web-based tool for the visual self- report of pain in a multidisciplinary pediatric chronic pain clinic. Clinical Journal of Pain The Clinical Journal of Pain submitted 2013 (CPA)
7. Brown SC, Amaria K, Campbell F, et al A Randomized Trial of Amitriptyline versus Gabapentin for Neuropathic Pain in Children ISPP – Stockholm, June 17-20, 2013 (SRA)
8. Schroeder J, Ruskin D, Brown SC et al Domains of Functional Disability and Associated Factors in Children with Chronic Pain ISPP – Stockholm, June 17-20, 2013 (CRA)
9. Stinson J, Campbell F, Isaac L, Brown SC et al Understanding the use of over-the counter pain treatments in adolescents with chronic pain: perspectives of adolescents with chronic pain and their primary caregivers CPS – Charlottetown, May 20-23, 2015 (CRA)
10. Stinson J, Campbell F, Isaac L, Brown SC et al Understanding the use of over-the counter pain treatments in adolescents with chronic pain: perspectives of adolescents with chronic pain and their primary caregivers ISPP – Seattle, May 31-June 4, 2015 (CRA)