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An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain PPOP
Published on: January 27, 2010
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Experimental pressure-pain assessments: Test-retest reliability, convergence and dimensionality
Tamara E Lacourt1, Jan H Houtveen1, Lorenz J P van Doornen1
1Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Scandinavian Journal of Pain
|June 20, 2018
Summary
This study found that repeated pressure pain measurements are reliable, but initial readings are higher. Combining bilateral pain thresholds and assessing threshold, moderate, and tolerance pain levels offers a comprehensive pain assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pain research
- Algometry
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Experimental pain studies offer insights into pain dimensions and individual differences.
- Assessing pain responsiveness involves measures like pain threshold, tolerance, and ratings, but their test-theoretical qualities require further documentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of pressure pain threshold measurements using various algometric techniques.
- To examine the interrelationship between pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, and pressure pain ratings.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-six healthy females underwent pressure pain threshold assessments on six body points using a digital algometer.
- Pressure pain tolerance was measured on the thumbnail, followed by sensory and affective ratings on visual analogue scales at tolerance level and for two pressure intensities.
Main Results:
- Good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations > .75) was observed for pain responses.
- First measurements of pain thresholds were significantly higher than subsequent ones.
- High convergent validity for pain thresholds across body points (Cronbach's alpha > .80), especially for bilateral similar sites (> .89).
- Principal component analysis revealed a three-factor solution explaining 81.9% of variance: moderate-level stimulus appraisal & pain tolerance; pain threshold; tolerance-level stimulus appraisal.
Conclusions:
- Recommendations for algometric studies include excluding initial measurements, using no more than two subsequent measurements for reliable mean threshold values, and combining bilateral similar points for aggregated thresholds.
- Pressure-pain threshold, moderate-intensity stimulus appraisal, and tolerance-level stimulus appraisal are distinct dimensions of pain responsiveness.
- Future assessments should include measures of each of these three dimensions for comprehensive pain evaluation.
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