Journal of Pain最新文献

{"title":"Letter to editor regarding DNMT3a contributes to bone cancer pain by epigenetic silencing of Kcnq2/Kcnq3 in dorsal root ganglion neurons.","authors":"Parth Aphale, Himanshu Shekhar, Shashank Dokania","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105537","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":" ","pages":"105537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Welfare policies, joint pain prevalence and educational gaps in 50 U.S. states from 2011 to 2021: A fixed effects analysis","authors":"Rui Huang ,&nbsp;Yuhang Li ,&nbsp;Feinuo Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on geographic disparities in pain and arthritis-related outcomes is still in its infancy, with little attention to the developing trends over time and the role of state welfare policies in shaping pain disparities. This study examines 1) spatiotemporal trends of moderate/severe arthritis-related joint pain prevalence across 50 U.S. states, 2) educational disparities therein, and 3) the impact of welfare policies— i.e., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Earned Income Tax Credit, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and Medicaid generosity. This study compiles 6-wave biennial state-level panel data using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Logistic regressions are conducted to estimate trends of joint pain prevalence, prevalence for different educational groups (i.e., less than high school, high school or some college, bachelor’s degree or above), and educational disparities. Incorporating policy data from the State Policy &amp; Politics Database (SPPD) and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s database (KFF), fixed effects regressions were used, with state- and year-fixed effects, to assess the impact of welfare policies. Results show that joint pain prevalence has risen in most states, with educational disparities in pain widening in over half, though both trends vary substantially across states. Colorado and North Dakota exhibit considerably sharper increases in both pain prevalence and educational inequalities. Generous Medicaid programs are associated with decreased joint pain prevalence for general population and the least-educated, and marginally linked to smaller educational inequalities therein. This study underscores the importance of state welfare policies in addressing pain disparities and calls for targeted interventions to support less-educated populations.</div></div><div><h3>Perspectives</h3><div>This article uses state-level panel data on arthritis-related pain and welfare policies to underscore the importance of studying macro-level policy determinants of pain and associated disparities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 105539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term effect of pain history and experimental pain responses on adolescents’ quality-of-life: A cohort study","authors":"Catarina Pires ,&nbsp;Makram Talih ,&nbsp;Cláudia F. Oliveira-Gomes ,&nbsp;Elsa Mateus ,&nbsp;Nare Navasardyan ,&nbsp;Christopher Sivert Nielsen ,&nbsp;Maria José Santos ,&nbsp;Raquel Lucas","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pain has been shown to impact quality-of-life, but less is known on whether adverse pediatric pain profiles predict long-term quality-of-life in non-clinical populations. We aimed to (1) assess the association of multisite and chronic musculoskeletal pain with quality-of-life at age 18, and (2) test whether experimental pain responses at age 13 predict future quality-of-life. We used data from the Generation XXI cohort. Reported pain was assessed using the Luebeck questionnaire at ages 13 and 18. At age 13, a subsample underwent quantitative sensory testing to assess pain sensitivity, and temporal summation of pain effects. At age 18, quality-of-life was assessed in six dimensions using the Kiddo-KINDL questionnaire. Associations were quantified using linear regression or analysis of covariance models, adjusted for adverse childhood experiences reported at age 13. No associations between multisite pain at 13 and scores in any quality-of-life dimensions at 18 were observed in either sex. Females with chronic musculoskeletal pain at 13 reported lower quality-of-life scores at 18 for self-esteem (linear regression coefficient: 12.73 [95% confidence interval: 4.18, 21.27]), friends (8.59 [1.76, 15.41]), school (6.05 [0.24, 11.86]) and overall quality-of-life (6.25 [1.47, 11.02]). Temporal summation of pain at 13 was associated with overall quality-of-life at 18 (-2.17 [-3.81, 0.54]). Participants who did not report multisite pain at either age showed higher quality-of-life scores at 18 across most dimensions. Quality-of-life scores were lower among participants reporting chronic musculoskeletal pain at both ages. Our findings underline the implications of pediatric pain management in shaping future psychosocial well-being.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>We found that: 1) experiencing pain throughout adolescence is associated with lower quality-of-life in late adolescence, particularly in females; 2) early enhanced temporal summation of pain may indicate future quality-of-life impairments; and 3) persistent pain from 13 to 18 seems to have a cumulative effect, especially for multisite pain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 105540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of stigma in Spanish people with chronic pain using the 8-item Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses (SSCI-8)","authors":"Juan P. Sanabria-Mazo ,&nbsp;Jaime Navarrete ,&nbsp;Mayte Serrat ,&nbsp;Juan R. Castaño-Asins ,&nbsp;Jordi Alonso ,&nbsp;Lance M. McCracken ,&nbsp;Whitney Scott ,&nbsp;Rubén Nieto ,&nbsp;Juan V. Luciano","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stigma is common in people with chronic pain. At present, however, the measurement of stigma in Spanish-speaking individuals remains a challenge due to a lack of validated measures in Spanish. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses 8-item version (SSCI-8) in people with chronic pain, focusing on dimensionality, factorial invariance, reliability (internal consistency and test-retest), and construct validity. Adults with chronic pain in Spain were recruited from patient associations and social networks to complete an online survey. The final sample comprised 530 individuals aged 18–70, predominantly women (&gt; 90%). Half of the sample completed the SSCI-8 on a second occasion four weeks later. Data analyses supported a one-factor model with correlated errors as the most optimal solution for the SSCI-8 (CFI =.988; TLI =.983; WRMR =.938; RMSEA =.093; 95% CI [.076,.110]) and factorial invariance across different subgroups. SSCI-8 scores showed a normal distribution, good internal consistency, and adequate stability over time. Significant positive correlations were found, as expected, between stigma and depression, anxiety, pain intensity, pain interference, disability, and injustice experiences. Likewise, significant negative correlations were observed with psychological flexibility. The SSCI-8 accounted for incremental variance beyond injustice experiences in predicting the clinical outcomes. The Spanish version of the SSCI-8 appears psychometrically sound as a measure of stigma for use in people with chronic pain.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>The full invariance evidence across gender and pain type reported means that total score differences are due to real differences in perceived stigma, rather than observed differences in interpretations of item contents between men and women in pain or with different types of pain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 105538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The direction and magnitude of conditioned pain modulation is dependent on test stimulus intensity in healthy participants but not in those with fibromyalgia","authors":"Laila A. Chaudhry ,&nbsp;Isabel Aboud ,&nbsp;Mathilde Ferland ,&nbsp;Natasha Stonebanks Cuillerier ,&nbsp;Simon S. Carrier ,&nbsp;Elodie Nickner ,&nbsp;Marc O. Martel ,&nbsp;Jeffrey S. Mogil","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is a psychophysical phenomenon considered to be a measure of endogenous descending pain modulatory mechanisms. Previous rodent data from our lab demonstrated that test stimulus intensity affects CPM’s direction, with higher-intensity stimuli leading to hypoalgesia (i.e., CPM) and lower-intensity stimuli leading to hyperalgesia (i.e., “anti-CPM”). Our primary aim was to see if we could replicate these findings in humans. Because deficits in CPM suggest low capacity to inhibit pain—a risk factor for chronic pain—the secondary aim of this study was to see how this “anti-CPM” phenomenon presented itself in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia. Healthy controls (<em>n</em>=51) and participants with fibromyalgia (<em>n</em>=39) underwent an individual heat pain threshold assessment, followed by a single CPM trial, at –1, +1, or +3 °C below/above their threshold. The CPM trial consisted of two baseline sub/suprathreshold heat pain stimulations (the test stimulus), a 30-s cold pressor test (4 °C) as a conditioning stimulus, and a final heat pain stimulation at the same temperature, with pain ratings provided throughout. Healthy controls displayed statistically significant CPM analgesia at +3 °C, no change at +1 °C, and hyperalgesia (anti-CPM) at −1 °C. Further analyses revealed that subjective intensity of the test stimulus determined the direction and magnitude of CPM. We observed no significant evidence for either analgesic CPM or anti-CPM in participants with fibromyalgia, suggesting that the mechanism(s) subserving both phenomena are dysfunctional in them.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>Similar to previous work in rodents, we show here that the use of lower-intensity test stimuli leads to hyperalgesic, instead of analgesic, conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Neither form of CPM was observed in participants with fibromyalgia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 105534"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144867303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nociceptive and neuropathic pain descriptors in adults with sickle cell disease are associated with overlap activity in the default, salience and somatosensory networks","authors":"Joel Dzidzorvi Kwame Disu ,&nbsp;Charles R. Jonassaint ,&nbsp;Tales Santini ,&nbsp;Tamer S. Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Enrico M. Novelli ,&nbsp;Sossena Wood","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Central sensitization plays a crucial role in chronic pain experienced by individuals with sickle cell disease, yet current pain assessment tools fail to capture the complex, multidimensional nature of this pain. Disrupted neural communication serves as a key marker of central sensitization. Thus, this study investigated whether Painimation, a novel electronic visualization tool for pain assessment, correlates with functional connectivity in brain networks using enhanced resolution 7-Tesla imaging, potentially offering a simpler method to identify CS in patients with SCD. Using 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, resting-state functional connectivity was examined in the default mode, salience, and somatosensory networks in 27 patients with SCD compared to 30 pain-free controls. Patients used Painimation to select visual animations representing their pain qualities and assigned intensity values. The most selected pain descriptors were throbbing, cramping, stabbing, and shooting pain. Patients with sickle cell disease demonstrated significantly decreased connectivity in all three networks when compared to controls, particularly between prefrontal regions in the default mode network, between the insula and paracentral regions in the salience network. The Painimation data showed that specific pain descriptors had distinct connectivity patterns, with cramping and stabbing pain exhibiting the strongest correlations within the somatosensory network. Notably, higher pain intensity scores for cramping and stabbing pain were associated with decreased functional connectivity in key somatosensory network regions. Linking Painimation descriptions with neuroimaging findings advances the understanding of pain processing mechanisms in sickle cell disease.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>This study provides novel insights into the neural correlations of subjective pain experiences in SCD, revealing how specific pain qualities relate to distinct patterns of brain connectivity. Identifying brain biomarkers that link pain descriptions, experiences and perception could transform the way pain is understood and managed in SCD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 105532"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144867301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of quality of life in long-COVID patients with new-onset chronic pain","authors":"Laura Barrero-Santiago ,&nbsp;Pablo Bellosta-López ,&nbsp;Víctor Doménech-García ,&nbsp;Lucía Pérez-Pérez ,&nbsp;Juan J. Tellería ,&nbsp;Raquel Almansa ,&nbsp;Federico Montero-Cuadrado","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105531","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105531","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic pain is highly prevalent in Long-COVID syndrome and significantly impacts quality of life (QoL). Given the complexity of long-COVID, a comprehensive approach is necessary to understand how the interactions of psychosocial, pain and functional factors may influence patients' well-being. This study aimed to explore key factors associated with QoL in long-COVID patients with new-onset chronic pain, and to multidimensionally characterize this population. A case-control design was used, recruiting 163 Long-COVID patients (49.04±8.23 years, 80% females) and 151 controls (48.86±8.28 years, 78% females). Socio-demographic, psychosocial, pain-related and functional outcomes were measured. QoL, assessed by the EQ-5D, was considered the main outcome. Anxiety was negatively associated with QoL (β=−0.012,95%CI:[−0.015, −0.008],p&lt;0.001), while aerobic capacity showed a positive association (β=0.001,95%CI:[0.001,0.002],p&lt;0.001). Employment status (β=0.175,95%CI:[0.091,0.260],p&lt;0.001), pain intensity (β=−0.003,95%CI:[−0.005,−0.001],p=0.004) and symptom complexity (β=−0.32,95%CI:[−0.51,−0.13],p&lt;0.001) were also significant associated factors. The strongest factor associated with being a case was higher levels of symptoms complexity (OR=1.09;95%CI:[1.05, 1.15];p&lt;0.001) followed by higher levels of depression (OR=1.13; 95%CI:[1.04,1.22];p=0.002). Long-COVID patients reported poorer self-perceived QoL and had significantly lower overall QoL, as well as worse outcomes in functional, pain-related and psychosocial variables when compared to control subjects (p&lt;0.001). Clinicians should pay attention to anxiety levels, aerobic capacity, work status and pain intensity early in the course of the disease to try to minimize the loss of QoL in this population. These findings may also assist clinicians in profiling their patients and guiding them toward an early and target ed intervention that addresses the associated factors, ultimately improving functionality and QoL of patients.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>This study identifies key clinical and psychosocial factors linked to new-onset chronic pain and reduced quality of life in long-COVID. Understanding these insights may help clinicians implement early, targeted, and interdisciplinary interventions to improve patient functionality and long-term outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 105531"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144861025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Making underrepresented pain visible: Chronic pain disparities among immigrant adolescents in 30 European countries","authors":"Josep Roman-Juan PhD ,&nbsp;Melanie Noel PhD ,&nbsp;Saurab Sharma PhD ,&nbsp;Mark P. Jensen PhD Hons ,&nbsp;Mica Gabrielle Marbil MSc ,&nbsp;Kathryn A. Birnie PhD ,&nbsp;Jordi Miró PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105533","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic pain is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with significant impairments in physical, emotional, social, and academic functioning. Despite advances in pediatric pain research, including efforts to improve diagnosis and management, critical gaps remain in understanding pain disparities among subpopulations. Immigrant adolescents represent a particularly overlooked group. While Europe hosts more than one-third of the global migrant population, epidemiological data on chronic pain in immigrant adolescents remain scarce and inconsistent. This study examined chronic pain prevalence and differences between immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents in Europe. Cross-sectional data from the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (n=146,187), including nationally representative samples of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds from general schools in 30 countries, were used. Chronic pain, defined as daily pain for at least six months, was assessed via self-report. Cross-national age- and gender-standardized prevalences were calculated, and log-binomial regressions examined differences between immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents. Overall, 14% of immigrant adolescents reported chronic pain, compared to 12% of non-immigrants. Significant variations were observed across countries, with chronic pain rates ranging from 7% in Estonia to 31% in Bulgaria. Immigrant adolescents reported significantly higher chronic pain rates in eight countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. This study shows that chronic pain is disproportionately prevalent among immigrant adolescents in several European countries. Policymakers should prioritize comprehensive integration programs, inclusive health care, and culturally responsive care to address inequities and mitigate the burden of chronic pain in this population.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>This study reveals significant disparities in chronic pain among immigrant adolescents living in Central and Eastern European countries. By identifying a vulnerable and underrepresented group, these findings underscore the need for inclusive health policies and offer a foundation for future research on sociocultural mechanisms contributing to pediatric chronic pain inequities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 105533"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patterns of pain perception in individuals with anxiety or depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental pain research","authors":"Jesús Salas-González ,&nbsp;Alberto Marcos Heredia-Rizo ,&nbsp;Hermann Fricke-Comellas ,&nbsp;Ruth L. Chimenti ,&nbsp;María Jesús Casuso-Holgado","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105530","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105530","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Differences in pain responses between adults with or without psychiatric conditions are documented, yet the certainty of evidence on the topic has not been assessed. We examined pain responses to experimentally induced pain in individuals diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorders compared to controls without mental health conditions. We also explored the influence of pain modality and associations between pain perception and symptoms severity. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and Embase were searched from inception to March 2025. Included studies reported pain measures (pain threshold, intensity, tolerance, unpleasantness) in adults with anxiety or depression, without co-occurring chronic pain, and healthy controls. The JBI Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and the Quality in Prognosis Studies assessed risk of bias. Certainty of evidence was judged by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Twenty-eight studies (1460 participants, 935 females) were included, most presenting moderate to high risk of bias. Compared to controls, individuals with depression exhibit higher pain thresholds [SMD = −.30 (95% CI −.60, −.01)] and pain intensity [SMD = .47 (95% CI .08, .86)], while those with anxiety exhibit lower pain thresholds [SMD = −.39 (95% CI −.61, −.17)] (GRADE: very low for all outcomes). Results differed depending on pain modality. Pain threshold was moderately correlated with depression severity: r = .437 (95% CI .208, .621). The data suggest distinct altered pain perception patterns, characterized by higher pain thresholds in depression and lower pain thresholds in anxiety. Adults with depression may be particularly sensitive, but not restricted to, ischemic stimuli.</div></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><div>OSF (doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/U453J).</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>This systematic review assessed how pain perception patterns may differ in individuals with anxiety or depression. Few studies included participants with anxiety, controlled for comorbidities, or were recently conducted, thus caution is needed before interpreting our findings. This underscores the need for updated and methodologically robust research on this field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 105530"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Test-retest reliability and measurement error of the numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale in people with low back pain","authors":"Sam A. Williams Bsc(Hons) ,&nbsp;Saurab Sharma PhD ,&nbsp;Aidan G. Cashin PhD ,&nbsp;Matthew D. Jones PhD ,&nbsp;Alessandro Chiarotto PhD ,&nbsp;Harrison J. Hansford Bsc(Hons) ,&nbsp;Martjie Venter MPhysio ,&nbsp;Michael A. Wewege PhD ,&nbsp;Michael C. Ferraro Bsc(Hons) ,&nbsp;Jack J. Devonshire BExPhys ,&nbsp;Sylvia M. Gustin PhD ,&nbsp;Raymond WJG Ostelo PhD ,&nbsp;James H. McAuley PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) and 0–100 visual analogue scale (VAS) are commonly used to assess pain intensity in low back pain (LBP) trials, but their measurement properties remain unclear. AIMS: We aimed to determine the reliability and measurement error of the NRS and VAS in non-specific LBP. We used a test-retest design with online questionnaire administration. Adults proficient in English with acute (&lt;6 weeks), subacute (6–12 weeks), or chronic (&gt;3 months) non-specific LBP were recruited. Pain intensities were recorded using the NRS and VAS at baseline, as well as 20 min and 24 h after baseline. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest detectable change (SDC) were estimated for acute and chronic LBP over two recall periods: 24 h and 7 days. A total of 733 began the survey; 298 (100 acute, 198 chronic) and 165 (62 acute, 103 chronic) completed 20-minute and 24-hour follow-ups respectively. Reliability was good to excellent (ICC 0.75 to 0.94) for the NRS and moderate to good (ICC 0.68 to 0.89) for the VAS across both intervals and for both LBP types. The SDC was 1.6 to 2.8 of 10 for the NRS and 20.9 to 36.5 of 100 for the VAS. Our results suggest the reliability of the NRS and VAS is acceptable in people with low back pain, however their measurement errors are higher than generally accepted minimal important change scores, which needs to be considered when interpreting trial results and measuring pain in clinical practice.</div></div><div><h3>Perspective</h3><div>This study examines the reliability and measurement error of two commonly used pain scales in people with low back pain. The findings suggest that small changes in pain intensity scores should be interpreted cautiously and add to growing evidence on the challenges of measuring fluctuating pain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51095,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 105528"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}