title: Construct validity of an instrument to measure neuropathic pain in women with bladder pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the construct validity of an instrument to measure neuropathic pain in women with bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Our hypothesis is that neuropathic, bladder, and bowel pain represent different constructs in women with BPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary planned analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study of 150 women with BPS. The relationship between neuropathic pain, urinary, and bowel symptoms was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation of the total neuropathic pain score with total urinary and bowel symptom scores was low to moderate (r = 0.28-0.49). The correlation of specific neuropathic pain items with bladder and bowel pain was also low to moderate (r = 0.12-0.36). Women with neuropathic pain had significantly higher scores for urinary urgency, bladder pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation than women with non-neuropathic pain (all P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatosensory neuropathic pain and "visceral" bladder and bowel pain represent separate but related constructs in women with BPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. larya@obgyn.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Lily A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Harvie
authors.forename: Uduak U
authors.initials: UU
authors.lastname: Andy
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cory
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Propert
authors.forename: Kristene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Whitmore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires