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Validation of the English Language Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire
  1. Alethia Baldwin Sellers, MD*,
  2. Ruth Ruscheweyh, MD†,
  3. Bernard Joseph Kelley, MD‡,
  4. Timothy J. Ness, MD, PhD* and
  5. Thomas R. Vetter, MD, MPH*
  1. *Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL; †Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany; and ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC.
  1. Address correspondence to: Alethia Baldwin Sellers, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, JT862, 619 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35249-6810 (e-mail: abaldwin{at}uab.edu).

Abstract

Background and Objectives The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) is predictive of pain-related responses to experimental stimuli in German-speaking individuals. Here, we explored the validation of the English translation of the PSQ (PSQ-E).

Methods One hundred thirty-six patients scheduled to undergo a low back interventional procedure completed the PSQ-E and other questionnaires including the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain ratings on a visual analog scale (VAS) were obtained following 2 standardized injections of subcutaneous lidocaine (VAS 1, infiltration in hand; VAS 2, infiltration of procedural site). The VAS measures were compared with the PSQ-E data and other inventories using linear regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables.

Results The PSQ-E properties were in all respects similar to those of the original German PSQ. VAS 1 magnitude was predicted by PSQ-E-minor (r = 0.26, P < 0.01). VAS 2 magnitude was predicted by PSQ-E-minor (r = 0.34, P < 0.001), and the prediction was significantly enhanced by further inclusion of the Brief Pain Inventory interference score (total r = 0.40, P < 0.001).

Conclusions The study demonstrated that a significant correlation exists between the PSQ-E and clinically relevant pain ratings. This study validates the PSQ-E both in terms of measuring pain sensitivity and as possible means of recognizing patients with high pain sensitivity. Defining this subset of patients may have clinical utility in the future.

https://doi.org/10.1097/AAP.0000000000000007

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    Footnotes

    • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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