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).


METHODS
Interview.


METHODS
Veterans Affairs medical center and university-based institute.


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


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
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.
VA Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA. ewiderstrom-noga@miami.edu
Eva G
EG
Widerström-Noga
Yenisel
Y
Cruz-Almeida
Alberto
A
Martinez-Arizala
Dennis C
DC
Turk
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*