Internal consistency, stability, and validity of the spinal cord injury version of the multidimensional pain inventory.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the internal consistency, stability, and construct validity of a spinal cord injury (SCI) version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-SCI).

DESIGN

Interview.

SETTING

Veterans Affairs medical center and university-based institute.

PARTICIPANTS

Community sample of persons with SCI and chronic pain (N=161).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The MPI-SCI.

RESULTS

The internal consistency of the MPI-SCI subscales ranged from fair (.60) for affective distress to substantial (.94) for pain interference with activities. The subscales of the MPI-SCI (ie, life interference [r=.81], affective distress [r=.71], solicitous responses [r=.86], distracting responses [r=.85], general activity [r=.69], pain interference with activities [r=.78], pain severity [r=.69], negative responses [r=.69]) showed adequate stability. In contrast, the stability of the support (r=.59) and the life control subscales (r=.31) was unacceptably low. All MPI-SCI subscales with the exception of the perceived responses by significant others subscales showed good convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The MPI-SCI appears to be a reasonable measure for evaluating chronic pain impact after SCI. In clinical trials, however, supplementary instruments should be included to assess changes in affect, social support, and perceptions of life control.