The pain apperception test: an investigation of concurrent validity

Gave 55 chronic pain patients the Pain Apperception Test (PAT), the MMPI, the Health Index Index, the Whitely Index, the Pain Estimate, and the Tourniquet Test in an investigation of the concurrent validity of the PAT. The results did not support strongly the concurrent validity of the PAT, given the small number of significant correlations obtained. However, several consistent patterns did emerge: The PAT appeared to be correlated positively with the Alcoholism and Social Introversion scales of the MMPI and with the Invalidism scale of the Health Index. The PAT appeared to be correlated negatively with the Psychopathic Deviate scale of the MMPI. The latter results are discussed with respect to the psychodynamics of chronic pain patients. Further research is suggested, especially with regard to direct pain measures and predictive validity.