Artificial Intelligence Applications for Pain Management in Children with Cognitive Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies may transform pediatric pain management, particularly in children with cognitive disabilities who face challenges in self-reporting pain. This systematic review explores the role of AI in assessing and managing pain in this population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to December 2024. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The review highlights promising results from AI-based tools in pain assessment and intervention, despite high risk of bias and limited evidence. Ethical challenges such as data privacy and algorithmic bias are also discussed.