maintaining lasting improvements oneyear followup of children with severe chronic pain undergoing multimodal inpatient treatment objective to investigate the longterm effectiveness of a 3week multimodal inpatient program for children and adolescents with chronic painmethods 167 adolescents were evaluated at pretreatment baseline 3 and 12month followup longterm effectiveness was investigated for painrelated variables painrelated disability school absence pain intensity and emotional distressresults we found statistically and clinically significant changes in all variables after 1 year the majority 56 showed overall improvement as indexed by decreased painrelated disability or school absence 22 had an unsuccessful treatment outcome those showing only shortterm improvements had higher levels of emotional distress at baselineconclusions 1 year after completing a multimodal inpatient program adolescents report less chronic pain disability and emotional distress clinically significant changes remain stable adolescents with high levels of emotional distress at admission may require special attention to maintain positive treatment outcomes specialized inpatient therapy is effective for children with chronic pain