Development and testing of a neuropathic pain screening questionnaire: ID Pain

The objective of the study was to develop a patient-completed screening tool to help differentiate nociceptive from neuropathic pain. A multicenter study was performed for item reduction (initial 89-item questionnaire) and model building. Patients (N = 586) with non-headache chronic pain completed the questionnaire and were referred to pain specialists for diagnosis. Factor and regression analyses were used to derive a final 6-item questionnaire named ID Pain. A second multicenter study evaluated reliability and validity. Patients (N = 308) treated by pain specialists completed ID Pain and validation measures. The researchers assessed sensitivity and specificity. The final 6 items were: Did the pain feel: (1) like pins and needles? (2) hot/burning? (3) numb? (4) like electrical shocks? (5) is the pain made worse with the touch of clothing or bed sheets? (6) is the pain limited to your joints? The questionnaire accurately predicted diagnoses of neuropathic pain made by pain specialists. ID Pain appeared to accurately indicate the presence of a neuropathic component of pain. ID Pain may be useful in primary care settings as a brief screening tool. Portenoy R et al. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006 Aug;22(8):1555-65.

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Read more: PMID 16870080