Merry Kalingel Levi PhD , Yelena Granovsky , Irit Weissman-Fogel , Tami Bar Shalita , Tseela Hoffman , Eynat Gal
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study aimed to develop and validate the Pain Awareness Scale (PAS), a novel self-report questionnaire designed to assess pain awareness in autistic adults. Using a mixed-methods approach, the PAS was developed through literature review, expert consultation, and cognitive interviews with nine autistic adults (5 females, mean age= 29.1, SD= 7.9). The questionnaire was then administered to 59 autistic (24 females, mean age=26.8, SD=7.4) and 73 neurotypical adults (19 females, mean age=27.8, SD=6.7). Principal Axis Factoring revealed four distinct subscales: Pain Recognition, Pain Characterization, Nonverbal Pain Communication, and Verbal Pain Communication. The PAS demonstrated good internal consistency across all subscales (Cronbach's α=0.71–0.92) and strong construct validity, with autistic adults scoring significantly higher than neurotypical adults’ total score and on three out of four subscales (p < 0.001). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between the PAS and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) total scores (ρ= 0.69, p< 0.01). The PAS offers a reliable and valid tool for assessing pain awareness difficulties in autistic adults.
Perspective
This article introduces the Pain Awareness Scale (PAS), a psychometrically validated measure of pain awareness in autistic adults. The PAS may enhance clinical assessment and deepen understanding of pain processing differences in autism, offering insight into underlying mechanisms relevant for both clinical and basic science research.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Pain publishes original articles related to all aspects of pain, including clinical and basic research, patient care, education, and health policy. Articles selected for publication in the Journal are most commonly reports of original clinical research or reports of original basic research. In addition, invited critical reviews, including meta analyses of drugs for pain management, invited commentaries on reviews, and exceptional case studies are published in the Journal. The mission of the Journal is to improve the care of patients in pain by providing a forum for clinical researchers, basic scientists, clinicians, and other health professionals to publish original research.