Pain symptom profiles in persons with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
Persistent pain is a common consequence of spinal cord injury. A patient-specific assessment that combines both the identification of pain symptoms and psychosocial factors is needed for a tailored treatment approach. The aim of the study was to define pain symptom profiles and to determine their relationship with psychosocial factors in persons with spinal cord injury.


METHODS
Face-to-face interview and examination.


METHODS
VA Medical Center and Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami, Florida.


METHODS
Persons with spinal cord injury (135 men and 21 women) provided detailed descriptions of 330 neuropathic pains.


METHODS
The American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale, pain history and measures of pain interference, life satisfaction, locus of control, social support and depression.


RESULTS
The exploratory factor analyses and regression analyses revealed three distinct symptom profiles: 1) aching, throbbing pain, aggravated by cold weather and constipation predicted by a combination of chance locus of control and lower levels of life satisfaction; 2) stabbing, penetrating, and constant pain of high intensity predicted by a combination of pain interference, localized pain, powerful others locus of control and depressed mood; and 3) burning, electric, and stinging pain aggravated by touch and muscle spasms predicted by pain interference.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these results need to be replicated in other spinal cord injury samples, our findings suggest that pain symptom profiles may be a useful way to further characterize pain in a comprehensive assessment strategy.
Cruz-Almeida
Yenisel
Y
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA.
Felix
Elizabeth R
ER
Martinez-Arizala
Alberto
A
Widerström-Noga
Eva G
EG
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*