McGill Pain Questionnaire


Name

McGill Pain Questionnaire

Synonyms

McGill Pain Index

Source Article

Melzack R, Torgerson WS. On the Language of Pain. Anesthesiology 34: 50-59, 1971

Description

The McGill Pain Questionnaire measures not only its intensity, but also its quality.  The questionnaire was developed in 1971 by Ronald Melzack and Warren Torgerson from McGill University in Canada. According to the authors, each disease produces a different quality of pain: causalgia is burning; visceral pain is stabbing or cramping, etc.. Thus, the quality of pain provides a key to diagnosis and may even suggest a course of therapy. 

Structure / Content

Sections:

  1. What Does Your Pain Feel Like?
  2. How Does Your Pain Change with Time?
  3. How Strong is Your Pain?

What Does Your Pain Feel Like?
Statement: Some of the following words below describe your present pain. Circle ONLY those words that best describe it. Leave out any category that is not suitable. Use only a single word in each appropriate category - the one that applies best.

       
Group Words (points)
1 Temporal Flickering (1), Pulsing (2), Quivering (3), Throbbing (4), Beating (5), Pounding (5)
2 Spatial Jumping (1), Flashing (2), Shooting (3)
3 Punctate pressure Pricking, Boring, Drilling, Stabbing
4 Incisive pressure Sharp, Cutting, Lacerating
5 Constrictive pressure Pinching, Pressing, Gnawing, Cramping, Crushing
6 Traction pressure Tugging, Pulling, Wrenching
7 Termal Hot, Burning, Scalding, Searing
8 Brightness Tingling, Itchy, Smarting, Stinging
9 Dullness Dull, Sore, Hurting, Aching, Heavy
10 Sensory miscellaneous Tender, Taut (tight), Rasping, Splitting
11 Tension Tiring, Exhausting
12 Autonomic Sickening, Suffocating
13 Fear Fearful, Frightful, Terrifying
14 Punishment Punishing, Grueling, Cruel, Vicious, Killing
15 Affective-evaluative-sensory: miscellaneous Wretched, Blinding
16 Evaluative Annoying, Troublesome, Miserable, Intense, Unbearable
17 Sensory: miscellaneous Spreading, Radiating, Penetrating, Piercing
18 Sensory: miscellaneous Tight, Numb, Squeezing, Drawing, Tearing
19 Sensory Cool, Cold, Freezing
20 Affective-evaluative: miscellaneous Nagging, Nauseating, Agonizing, Dreadful, Torturing


        Pain score = SUM (points for applicable descriptors)

How Does Your Pain Change with Time?

Which word or words would you use to describe the pattern of your pain?

  • continuous steady constant 1
  • rhythmic periodic intermittent 2
  • brief momentary transient 3

Do the following items increase or decrease your pain?

  • (1) liquor
  • (2) stimulants such as coffee
  • (3) eating
  • (4) heat
  • (5) cold
  • (6) damp
  • (7) weather changes
  • (8) massage or use of a vibrator
  • (9) pressure
  • (10) no movement
  • (11) movement
  • (12) sleep or rest
  • (13) lying down
  • (14) distraction (TV reading etc.)
  • (15) urination or defecation
  • (16) tension
  • (17) bright lights
  • (18) loud noises
  • (19) going to work
  • (20) intercourse
  • (21) mild exercise
  • (22) fatigue

How Strong is Your Pain?

Statement: People agree that the following 5 words (mild discomforting distressing horrible excruciating) represent pain of increasing intensity. To answer each question below write the number of the most appropriate word in the space beside the question.

Which word describes your pain right now?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Which word describes it at its worst?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Which word describes it when it is least?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Which word describes the worst toothache you ever had?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Which word describes the worst headache yo ever had?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Which word describes the worst stomach-ache you ever had?

  • mild 1
  • discomforting 2
  • distressing 3
  • horrible 4
  • excruciating 5

Scoring Method / Interpretation

• Minimum pain score: 0 
• Maximum pain score: 78
The higher the pain score the greater the pain.




References

Melzack R. The McGill Pain Questionnaire: Major properties and scoring methods. Pain. 1975; 1: 277-299.
Stein C Mendl G. The German counterpart to McGill Pain Questionnaire. Pain. 1988; 32: 251-255.







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