Internal Consistency, Stability, and Validity of the Spinal Cord Injury Version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory

Abstract

Widerström-Noga EG, Cruz-Almeida Y, Martinez-Arizala A, Turk DC. Internal consistency, stability, and validity of the spinal cord injury version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Objective To evaluate the internal consistency, stability, and construct validity of a spinal cord injury (SCI) version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-SCI). Design Interview. Setting Veterans Affairs medical center and university-based institute. Participants Community sample of persons with SCI and chronic pain (N=161). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure The MPI-SCI. Results The internal consistency of the MPI-SCI subscales ranged from fair (.60) for affective distress to substantial (.94) for pain interference with activities. The subscales of the MPI-SCI (ie, life interference [ r=.81], affective distress [ r=.71], solicitous responses [ r=.86], distracting responses [ r=.85], general activity [ r=.69], pain interference with activities [ r=.78], pain severity [ r=.69], negative responses [ r=.69]) showed adequate stability. In contrast, the stability of the support ( r=.59) and the life control subscales ( r=.31) was unacceptably low. All MPI-SCI subscales with the exception of the perceived responses by significant others subscales showed good convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. Conclusions The MPI-SCI appears to be a reasonable measure for evaluating chronic pain impact after SCI. In clinical trials, however, supplementary instruments should be included to assess changes in affect, social support, and perceptions of life control.