Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Dutch language version (MPI-DLV)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of a Dutch translation of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, MPI-DLV. Data was available on 733 chronic pain patients. There were three issues of special interest. The first one related to the comparability between the MPI-DLV and the American and German MPI versions with regard to the psychometric aspects. The second dealt with the construct validity of the MPI-DLV scale 'general activity'. It was predicted that patients with high scores on this scale would be in better physical condition, as measured on a working-to-tolerance bicycle ergometer test. In relation to the third issue, attention was given to the factor-invariance between fibromyalgia patients and back pain patients. From the results obtained it was concluded that (1) the factorial structure of the three MPI parts is replicated and the reliability estimates and validity indicators are similar to those from the American and German versions; (2) patients with high scores on the 'general activity' scale are in better physical condition and (3) MPI-DLVs of fibromyalgia and back pain patients do have similar factorial structures. Evidence was also obtained that the MPI-DLV is sensitive to treatment changes. Applications of the MPI-DLV are discussed.