(183) Central Sensitization Inventory Discriminates between Pain Groups in Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Abdominal and musculoskeletal (MSK) pain experiences are common in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Recent evidence suggests that MSK pain severity is influenced by IBD activity and it is mediated by symptoms commonly related to central sensitization syndromes. However, it is not known whether severity of central sensitization symptoms can discriminate the type of pain presentation in individuals with IBD. A cross-sectional online survey among 305 New Zealand adults with IBD (aged 18-88 years) was conducted. Features of IBD, abdominal pain, and MSK pain were examined using multiple validated questionnaires. Presence and severity of symptoms commonly seen in central sensitivity syndromes were assessed using the central sensitization inventory (CSI). One-way analysis of variance with post-hoc multiple comparisons, while controlling for age and gender, was used to determine differences in CSI scores based on the type of pain presentation: no pain (n=61), only abdominal pain (n=36), only MSK pain (n=82), and both abdominal/MSK pain (n=125). Analysis indicated significantly different CSI scores between identified pain presentations (F (3,298) = 32.187, p ≤ .000). Individuals reporting no pain demonstrated the lowest CSI scores (M = 31.25, SD = 12.39), while those with both abdominal/MSK pain demonstrated the highest (M = 51.48, SD = 13.22). Post-hoc comparisons described significant differences (p ≤ .05) in CSI scores between all pain groups, except between individuals only reporting musculoskeletal pain and those only reporting abdominal pain (MD = 1.07, SE = 2.52). In the present study, CSI scores were able to discriminate pain presentations in IBD, with higher CSI scores in individuals with both abdominal/MSK pain. Future research should explore the relationship between CSI scores in this population with clinical measures of central sensitization.