Ethnic Differences Identified by Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire Correlate With Clinical Pain Responses

Background and Objectives The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire, English version (PSQ-E), is predictive of pain-related responses to experimental stimuli. Ethnic differences have been noted in experimental measures of pain sensation using quantitative sensory testing. The present study sought to determine if the PSQ-E also identified similar ethnic differences. Methods Fifty-seven subjects who self-identified as African Americans (AAs) and who were scheduled to undergo a low-back interventional procedure completed the PSQ-E and other questionnaires. Their data were compared with an age-, sex-, and opioid usage–matched sample of 57 self-identified non-Hispanic white (NHW) subjects. Pain ratings on a visual analog scale (VAS) were obtained following 2 standardized injections of subcutaneous lidocaine (VAS1—infiltration in hand, VAS2—infiltration of procedural site). Correlations between PSQ-E scores, VAS measures, and other inventories were tested. Results The PSQ-E scores and clinical and experimental pain scores were all significantly elevated in AA compared with NHW patients (P

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