The comprehensive diagnosis of spinal pain. A new psychodiagnostic instrument

The psychological assessment of patients suffering back pain has become a standard part of comprehensive diagnostic protocol and an accepted responsibility of the clinical practitioner. This is for good reason, since research confirms the value of psychological evaluation to clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, and the outcomes of both medical and surgical treatment. However, the traditional psychological tests developed for use with psychiatric patients and in mental health settings are not appropriate for nonpsychiatric orthopaedic patients with back pain. However, a psychometric instrument has recently been developed for use with patients in pain. The Post-Traumatic Personality Profile (P-3) is a 48-item, multiple-choice, paper-and-pencil instrument that takes only 15 to 20 minutes. This article discusses the psychometric properties of the P-3 and presents a typical test interpretation.