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Psychometric Study of the Pain Drawing
Lisa H Trahan1, Emily Cox-Martin2, Carrie E Johnson3
1Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1330, P. O. Box 301439, Houston, TX, USA 77230.
Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research
|December 13, 2017
Summary
Pain drawings reliably show pain location and spread among cancer patients. Scores correlate with symptom severity and neuropathic pain descriptors, validating their use in multidisciplinary pain assessment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pain Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Cancer treatment can induce neuropathic pain.
- Pain drawing is a tool to assess pain location and dispersion.
- Reliability and validity of pain drawing need evaluation in cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess interrater reliability of pain drawing scoring methods across disciplines.
- Investigate validity indicators of pain drawing in cancer patients with treatment-induced neuropathic pain.
Main Methods:
- 56 patients with cancer treatment-induced neuropathic pain participated.
- Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory Body Map, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, and McGill Pain Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- High interrater reliability (ICC .93-.99) was found among medical and psychology professionals.
- Pain drawing scores correlated with symptom burden severity (.29-.39) and interference (.28-.34).
- Patients with hand/foot pain reported more neuropathic descriptors (electric, numb, shooting).
Conclusions:
- Pain drawings demonstrate consistent interpretation of pain location and dispersion among multidisciplinary pain teams.
- Pain drawing scores are valid indicators, correlating with symptom burden and neuropathic pain characteristics.
