A standard way to measure pain and psychological morbidity in dental practice

Dental surgeons are continually faced with patients in pain. In complicated cases, a measure of pain and its psychological consequences are essential. The McGill Pain Questionnaire measures pain using 78 descriptors and is useful not only in diagnosis but in monitoring treatment outcome. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a simple way of assessing anxiety and depression in non psychiatric out-patient clinics. These two scales are compared with other measures that can be used.