The dimensions of pain quality: factor analysis of the Pain Quality Assessment Scale
- PMID: 18574365
- DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31816b1058
The dimensions of pain quality: factor analysis of the Pain Quality Assessment Scale
Abstract
Objective: To provide a better empirical understanding of the dimensionality of neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain quality.
Method: An exploratory factor analysis (FA) was performed with baseline pain quality data [assessed using the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS)] from patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (n=368) and low back pain (n=455) who had participated in a series of analgesic clinical trials. The results of the FA were then confirmed in a sample of patients with neuropathic pain secondary to carpal tunnel syndrome (n=138). Comparisons between the diagnostic groups on scale scores derived from the FA results were also made using t tests.
Results: Three clear pain quality factors emerged that seemed to represent (1) paroxysmal pain sensations (PQAS descriptors: shooting, sharp, electric, hot, and radiating), (2) superficial pain (itchy, cold, numb, sensitive, and tingling), and (3) deep pain (aching, heavy, dull, cramping, and throbbing). The PQAS tender pain item did not load strongly on any of the 3 factors.
Discussion: The findings support the hypothesis that pain qualities cluster into distinct groups. If replicated in additional samples, the pain quality domains identified may provide clinicians and researchers with a useful way to summarize data from pain quality measures, and may also provide meaningful end points that would allow for treatment differentiation between various pharmacologic entities.
Comment in
-
Pain quality assessment scale: practical implications of factor analysis.Clin J Pain. 2009 Jun;25(5):453. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e318193cf50. Clin J Pain. 2009. PMID: 19454882 No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
The pain quality response profile of oxymorphone extended release in the treatment of low back pain.Clin J Pain. 2009 Feb;25(2):116-22. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e3181817ac8. Clin J Pain. 2009. PMID: 19333156 Clinical Trial.
-
The pain quality assessment scale: assessment of pain quality in carpal tunnel syndrome.J Pain. 2006 Nov;7(11):823-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2006.04.003. J Pain. 2006. PMID: 17074624 Clinical Trial.
-
Predicting response to pregabalin from pretreatment pain quality: clinical applications of the pain quality assessment scale.Pain Med. 2013 Apr;14(4):526-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01423.x. Epub 2012 Jul 3. Pain Med. 2013. PMID: 22759088 Clinical Trial.
-
Clinical and pre-clinical pain assessment: are we measuring the same thing?Pain. 2008 Mar;135(1-2):7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2007.12.008. Epub 2008 Jan 22. Pain. 2008. PMID: 18215466 Review. No abstract available.
-
Hypervigilance to pain: an experimental and clinical analysis.Pain. 2005 Jul;116(1-2):4-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.03.035. Pain. 2005. PMID: 15927387 Review. No abstract available.
Cited by
-
Is there a relationship between throbbing pain and arterial pulsations?J Neurosci. 2012 May 30;32(22):7572-6. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0193-12.2012. J Neurosci. 2012. PMID: 22649235 Free PMC article.
-
A Retrospective Assessment of Neuropathic Pain in Response to Intraneural Facilitation® Therapy and Neurovascular Index-Guided Food Elimination.Biomedicines. 2025 Mar 11;13(3):688. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13030688. Biomedicines. 2025. PMID: 40149665 Free PMC article.
-
Brain activity for chronic knee osteoarthritis: dissociating evoked pain from spontaneous pain.Eur J Pain. 2011 Sep;15(8):843.e1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2010.12.007. Epub 2011 Feb 10. Eur J Pain. 2011. PMID: 21315627 Free PMC article.
-
Expression of mitochondrial dysfunction-related genes and pathways in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer survivors.Mol Pain. 2018 Jan-Dec;14:1744806918816462. doi: 10.1177/1744806918816462. Epub 2018 Nov 14. Mol Pain. 2018. PMID: 30426838 Free PMC article.
-
Associations Between Perceived Stress and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Otoxicity in Adult Cancer Survivors.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2018 Jul;56(1):88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.02.021. Epub 2018 Mar 7. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2018. PMID: 29524582 Free PMC article.
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical