Interview vs. paper-and-pencil administration of the McGill Pain Questionnaire.

In a 2 x 2 design, college student subjects described one of two levels of cold pressor pain (threshold or tolerance) with the McGill Pain Questionnaire administered via one of two modes (interview or paper-and-pencil). Interview administration was associated with higher scores on 5 of the 6 MPQ scores calculated. Data did not support the notion that this effect is entirely attributable to increased probability of interviewed subjects' endorsement of descriptors for which clarification of meaning was sought. Reliable effects of pain intensity and mode of administration significantly interact.