Validity of the cold pressor test and pain sensitivity questionnaire via online self-administration

Matthew H McIntyre, 23andMe Research Team, Achim Kless, Peter Hein, Mark Field and Joyce Y Tung

PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: To determine the feasibility of complex home-based phenotyping, 1,876 research participants from the customer base of 23andMe completed an online version of a Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) as well as a cold pressor test (CPT) which is used in clinical assessments of pain. Overall our online version of the PSQ performed similarly to the original pen-and-paper version. Construct validity of the PSQ total was demonstrated by internal consistency and consistent discrimination between more and less painful items. Criterion validity was demonstrated by correlation with pain sensitivity as measured by the CPT. Within the same cohort we performed a cold pressor test using a layperson description and household equipment. Comparison with published reports from controlled studies revealed similar distributions of cold pain tolerance times (i.e., time elapsed before removing the hand from the water). Of those who elected to participate in the CPT, a large majority of participants did not report issues with the test procedure or noncompliance with the instructions (97%). We confirmed a large sex difference in CPT thresholds in line with published data, such that women removed their hands from the water at a median of 54.2 seconds, with men lasting for a median time of 82.7 seconds (Kruskal-Wallis statistic, p

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0231697

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231697

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