title: Ability of the central sensitization inventory to identify central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the ability of the central sensitization inventory (CSI), a new screening instrument, to assist clinicians in identifying patients with central sensitivity syndromes (CSSs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients from a psychiatric medical practice (N=161), which specialized in the assessment and treatment of complex pain and psychophysiological disorders, were assessed for the presence of a CSS. CSI scores, using a previously determined cutoff of "40" of "100," were compared between the CSS patient group (n=99) and the non-CSS patient group (n=62). Information on false positives, false negatives, true positives, and true negatives were analyzed, and sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted. In addition, CSS-relevant variables such as depression, abuse, and substance abuse were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large percentage of CSS patients had comorbid major depressive disorder (80%) and abuse history (43%), which was higher than rates for the patients without a CSS (55% and 24%, respectively). The CSI correctly identified 82.8% (n=82) of CSS patients as having a CSS (ie, sensitivity) and 54.8% (n=28) of non-CSS patients as not having a CSS (ie, specificity). False-positive patients (not diagnosed with a CSS, but scoring >40 on the CSI) reported more severe pain, interference in daily functioning, and abuse history, compared with the non-CSS patients who scored below 40 (ie, true negatives).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CSI is a useful and valid instrument for screening patients for the possibility of a CSS, although the chances of false positives are relatively high when evaluating patients with complex pain and psychophysiological disorders.
authors.affiliation: *PRIDE Research Foundation ‡Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas †Graduate School of Nursing §Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neblett
authors.forename: Meredith M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hartzell
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Tom G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: YunHee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gatchel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization / Q000502:physiology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome