Elsevier

The Journal of Pain

Volume 6, Issue 2, February 2005, Pages 98-106
The Journal of Pain

Original reports
Assessment of pain quality in chronic neuropathic and nociceptive pain clinical trials with the Neuropathic Pain Scale

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2004.11.002Get rights and content
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Abstract

Although a number of measures of pain qualities exist, little research has examined the potential for these measures to identify the unique effects of pain treatments on different pain qualities. We examined the utility of the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) for assessing changes in pain qualities after open label lidocaine patch 5% in 3 samples of patients: patients with peripheral neuropathic pain, low back pain, and osteoarthritis. With one exception (“cold” pain in subjects with low back pain), each of the NPS items showed significant change after open label lidocaine patch. In addition, significantly larger changes were observed for the NPS items reflecting global pain intensity and pain unpleasantness and for items assessing sharp and deep pain than for items assessing cold, sensitive, and itchy pain. The pattern of changes in pain qualities did not differ across the 3 diagnostic groups, but it did differ from the patterns of changes in pain qualities associated with other analgesic treatments. The results support the potential utility of the NPS for assessing the patterns of changes in pain qualities that can be observed after pain treatment.

Perspective

Pain clinical trials that include measures of pain qualities, such as the NPS, might identify distinct patterns of treatment effects on those pain qualities. This research might be used to help clinicians target analgesics to match the specific qualities associated with a patient’s pain and to better understand the mechanisms of analgesic effects in drug development programs.

Key words

Pain assessment
Neuropathic Pain Scale
pain quality

Cited by (0)

Supported by a grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc to the University of Rochester Office of Professional Education. M.P.J. has received research support or consulting fees in the past year from AstraZeneca, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Purdue Pharma. R.H.D. has received research support, consulting fees, or speakers bureau honoraria in the past year from Allergan, Alpharma, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly & Co, Endo Pharmaceuticals, EpiCept Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, NeurogesX, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Purdue Pharma, Reliant Pharmaceuticals, and UCB Pharma. A.R.G., N.O., and B.S.G. hold stock option in Endo Pharmaceuticals. Permission to use the Neuropathic Pain Scale can be obtained from the MAPI Research Institute (e-mail address: http://www.mapi-trust.org; B.S.G. and M.P.J. receive a portion of user fees for the NPS or PQAS charged by MAPI to industry (use by academic researchers is free).