Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans
Published on: December 19, 2016
Site of pain: relationship to measures of pain description, behavior and personality
Timothy C Toomey1, Virginia F Gover, Beverly N Jones
1University of North Carolina Pain Center, Dental Research Unit, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 U.S.A.
Abstract:
Recent research has focused on identification of clinically meaningful subgroupings within the chronic pain population in contrast to prior emphasis on the homogeneity of these patients. The present study investigates site of pain as a potentially useful classification variable for identification of differences among chronic pain patients. In the study 92 patients presenting to a multidisciplinary pain clinic with chronic, benign pain were categorized as to site of pain (head/neck, low back, neither, both). Patients completed self-report scales assessing various activity abilities and health behaviors, a measure of pain description (McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), health related measures of personality (Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) and health beliefs (Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC). One-way ANOVAs revealed significant differences as a function of pain site on a number of behavioral variables (downtime, walking, recreational and social abilities), pain description (MPQ--number of words chosen, total sum of ranks, sensory and affective) and psychological variables (IBQ--disease conviction, psychologic vs. somatic perception of illness and MHLC--internality). These results suggest site of pain to be of significance in the elaboration of behavioral and psychological response to chronic pain and implications for treatment are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Nociception
Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
Analgesia and Pain Management
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Pain
Self-Report Tests of Personality

