Creation of the Abbreviated Measures of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory: The PCS-4 and SHAI-5

Abstract

Abstract Objective: In patients with arm and upper extremity illness, pain catastrophizing and health anxiety are important factors in disability, pain and patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to develop a shorter version of the 13-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS] and 18-item Short Health Anxiety Inventory [SHAI]. Methods: One hundred and sixty-four patients [54% women, mean age of 51 years] with a variety of upper extremity diagnoses enrolled in this study. Patients completed the PCS, the SHAI, the Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire [DASH] for disability, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] for depressive symptoms and a scale to measure pain. Inter-correlation analyses were conducted on each of the subscales of the PCS and the SHAI and questions were selected based on the magnitude of their inter-item correlation. Results: Questions 3, 6, 8 and 11 remained in the PCS-4 and showed good internal consistency [α = 0.86] and correlated highly with the original PCS [r = 0.96]. Questions 2, 3, 12, 15 and 17 were chosen for the SHAI-5. The SHAI-5 had α = 0.67 and had a correlation or r = 0.87 with the SHAI-18. Both the SHAI-5 and PCS-4 had equal correlations with DASH, PHQ and pain as the original questionnaires. Conclusions: We found that the PCS-4 and SHAI-5 were comparable to the original questionnaires, but further studies should be conducted in order to confirm our findings. This study provides preliminary evidence that the PCS-4 and SHAI-5 could be used to screen for health anxiety and pain catastrophizing in busy orthopedic settings. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level II