Elsevier

The Journal of Pain

Volume 13, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 58-63
The Journal of Pain

Original Report
Sensory Pain Qualities in Neuropathic Pain

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2011.10.002Get rights and content
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Abstract

The qualities of chronic neuropathic pain (NeP) may be informative about the different mechanisms of pain. We previously developed a 2-factor model of NeP that described an underlying structure among sensory descriptors on the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. The goal of this study was to confirm the correlated 2-factor model of NeP. Individual descriptive scores from the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a correlated 2-factor model. Factor 1 (stabbing pain) was characterized by high loadings on stabbing, sharp, and shooting sensory items; factor 2 (heavy pain) was characterized by high loadings on heavy, gnawing, and aching items. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis strongly supported the correlated 2-factor model.

Perspective

This article validates a model that describes the qualities of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. These data suggest that specific pain qualities may be associated with pain mechanisms or may be useful for predicting treatment response.

Key words

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
neuropathic pain
postherpetic neuralgia
confirmatory factor analysis
regularized regression
pain qualities

Cited by (0)

Dr. Mackey is funded by NIH K24DA029262 and R01NS053961. Dr. Carroll is funded by NIH K23DA025152. Dr. Dumenci is funded by NIH R01CA140151. Additional funding was provided by Pfizer Inc.

Drs. Mackey, Carroll, and Dumenci have received no financial support from Pfizer for this work. Drs. Emir, Murphy, and Whalen are employees of Pfizer Inc.