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Measurement of chronic pain: A correlation study of verbal and nonverbal scales

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Abstract

The visual analogue rating scale for pain and verbal pain descriptors from the McGill Pain Questionnaire were used to measure changes in pain severity in 77 patients treated with acupuncture for chronic low back pain. A very significant correlation was found between the visual and the verbal scales, which was maintained during repeated testing. It is suggested that the visual rating scale is suitable for repeated measurements of pain severity.

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The Acupuncture Study Group was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

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Mendelson, G., Selwood, T.S. Measurement of chronic pain: A correlation study of verbal and nonverbal scales. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 3, 263–269 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350830

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