Development of a symptoms questionnaire for complex regional pain syndrome and potentially related illnesses: the Trauma Related Neuronal Dysfunction Symptoms Inventory.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a questionnaire to evaluate symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I), fibromyalgia, and repetitive strain injury to determine the test-retest reliability and investigate concurrence in the clinical manifestations of CRPS-I and fibromyalgia.


METHODS
The Trauma Related Neuronal Dysfunction Symptoms Inventory (TSI) was developed by determining the content validity and the practical use of the questionnaire. Furthermore, the test-retest reliability was assessed on 2 identical questionnaires filled out within a 7-day interval by CRPS-I and fibromyalgia patients.


METHODS
Outpatient pain clinic of a Dutch medical center.


METHODS
CRPS-I (n=26; mean age, 54y) and fibromyalgia patients (n=42; mean age, 45.4y).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Test-retest reliability calculated with intraclass correlation (ICC).


RESULTS
Reliability scores were good for the whole questionnaire, its categories, and domains (ICC>.75) for both CRPS-I and fibromyalgia patients. Sensory complaints (except for change in cold perception), motor complaints, and visceral complaints (diarrhea and incontinence) were reported by both CRPS-I and fibromyalgia patients. A change in cold perception, discoloration, change in skin temperature, change in sweating behavior, change in the severity of edema during exercise, and trophic changes of skin were reported significantly more often by CRPS-I patients, whereas complaints of the (upper and lower) back, constipation, urine retention, and experiencing a dry mouth were reported significantly more often by fibromyalgia patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The TSI is a reliable instrument with good content validity, which can be used in the evaluation of similarities and differences between CRPS-I and fibromyalgia. The systematic evaluation of symptoms of CRPS-I and potentially related illnesses may provide a better basis for future research into the underlying mechanism(s).
Collins
Susan
S
Department of Anesthesiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.collins@vumc.nl
van Hilten
Jacobus J
JJ
Marinus
Johan
J
Zuurmond
Wouter W
WW
de Lange
Jaap J
JJ
Perez
Roberto S
RS
D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012881:Skin Temperature; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013546:Sweating; D014555:Urination Disorders; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology