Article

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily evaluate the validity
of an interview-based spinal cord injury (SCI) neuropathic pain screening
instrument.Setting:Six university-based SCI centers in the United States.
METHODS: Clinician diagnoses of neuropathic pain (NP) and non-neuropathic pain
subtypes were collected independently of descriptions of the pain characteristics
provided by the persons with SCI by using the Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument
(SCIPI); SCIPI information and physician diagnoses for 82 pain sites of which
they were most confident were subsequently compared. RESULTS: Four of the SCIPI
items correlated significantly with the NP subtype as determined by the
clinician. The best cutoff score for identifying NP was an endorsement of two or
more of these four items. Using this cutoff, sensitivity of the SCIPI was 78%,
specificity was 73% and overall diagnostic accuracy was 76%. CONCLUSION: In this
preliminary study, the SCIPI, which can be administered by a nonclinician,
appears to have good sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in a SCI
population; it may have a role as a screening tool for NP after SCI. Further
study is needed.

Langue : ANGLAIS