Brief Pain Inventory

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), an invaluable instrument in the assessment of pain, was developed by the Pain Research Group under the aegis of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Symptom Evaluation in Cancer Care. This medical questionnaire has since been an essential tool for both clinicians and researchers in understanding the multi-dimensional nature of pain, particularly in the context of cancer care.

Background[edit | edit source]

The complexities of pain, both in its physiological and psychological dimensions, necessitate instruments that can accurately capture its essence. Recognizing this need, the Pain Research Group formulated the BPI to provide a comprehensive measure that could capture the intensity, location, and interference of pain in patients' lives, especially those undergoing cancer treatment.

Structure and Components[edit | edit source]

The BPI consists of several key components that collectively provide an encompassing picture of the patient's pain experience:

  • Pain Severity: Utilizes a numerical scale to quantify the patient's pain intensity at its worst, least, average, and current states.
  • Pain Interference: Assesses how pain interferes with general activity, mood, walking, work, relationships, sleep, and enjoyment of life.
  • Pain Location: Asks the patient to identify the sites of pain on a body diagram.[1]

Utility and Application[edit | edit source]

While initially developed for cancer care, the BPI's versatility has seen its adoption in a variety of settings:

  • Chronic pain assessment irrespective of etiology.
  • Evaluation in post-operative pain scenarios.
  • Use in clinical trials as a measure for pain outcomes.
  • Modification and adaptation for specific cultural or linguistic populations.[2]

Validation and Reliability[edit | edit source]

The BPI has undergone extensive validation exercises, proving its reliability and validity across different populations, languages, and cultural contexts. It has consistently demonstrated:

  • High internal consistency.
  • Solid construct validity.
  • Sensitivity to changes in clinical status.[3]

Limitations and Considerations[edit | edit source]

Like any clinical tool, the BPI has its limitations:

  • While comprehensive, it doesn't replace a full clinical assessment.
  • Inter-individual variability in pain perception may affect subjective scores.
  • It may not capture all nuances of pain types (e.g., neuropathic vs. nociceptive).

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

The Brief Pain Inventory remains an indispensable tool in modern pain management and research. Its comprehensive nature and robust validation make it an asset for any clinician aiming to understand and address the multifaceted nature of pain.

External links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Breivik, H., Borchgrevink, P. C., Allen, S. M., Rosseland, L. A., Romundstad, L., Hals, E. K., ... & Stubhaug, A. (2008). Assessment of pain. British journal of anaesthesia, 101(1), 17-24.
  2. Atkinson, T. M., Rosenfeld, B. D., Sit, L., Mendoza, T. R., Fruscione, M., Lavene, D., ... & Cleeland, C. S. (2011). Using confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate construct validity of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 41(3), 558-565.
  3. Radbruch, L., Loick, G., Kiencke, P., Lindena, G., Sabatowski, R., Grond, S., ... & Cleeland, C. S. (1999). Validation of the German version of the Brief Pain Inventory. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 18(3), 180-187.

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD