Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI)

SCALING AND SCORING OF THE

Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory

(NPSI)

Mapi Research Trust Didier Bouhassira, MD, PhD

27 rue de la Villette INSERM U-792
69003 Lyon Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la
France Douleur
Phone: +33 (0) 4 72 13 65 75 Hôpital Ambroise Paré
Fax: +33 (0) 4 72 13 66 82 9, avenue Charles de Gaulle
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
Contact: France
Marie-Pierre Emery Phone: + 33 (0) 1 49 09 45 56
E-mail: mpemery@mapigroup.com Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 09 44 35
E-mail: didier.bouhassira@apr.ap-hop-paris.fr

Version 1: February 2008 Page 1 of 2

Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI)

The NPSI is composed of 12 items investigating 5 dimensions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE:

• Ten descriptors:
Number of Cluster of Item Direction of
Dimensions
Items Items Reversion Dimensions
Evoked pain 3 8, 9, 10
Pressing (deep)
2 2, 3
spontaneous pain
Higher score = higher
Paroxysmal pain 2 5, 6 No
neuropathic pain
Paresthedia/dysesthesia 2 11, 12
Burning (superficial)
1 1
spontaneous pain
• Two additional categorical items (items 4 and 7) evaluate the temporal sequence of
spontaneous ongoing pain and paroxysmal pain.

SCORING OF DIMENSIONS:

• Descriptors: 0-10 numerical scale in which 0 is “no pain” and 10 is “ the

most intense pain imaginable”
• Temporal sequence of spontaneous ongoing pain: number of hours
Item scaling
during the last 24h
• Temporal sequence of paroxysmal pain: number of paroxysms during
the last 24h
Weighting of items No
• Total score ranging from 0 to 100
Extension of the
• Subscale scores ranging from 0 to 10
Scoring Scale
• Score by item
• Total score: A total intensity score can be calculated as the sum of the
scores of the 10 descriptors ranging from 0 to 100
Scoring Procedure
• Subscale scores: Five subscores corresponding to the mean scores of
the items belonging to each of the five dimensions ranging from 0 to 10

Interpretation and The subscales were data is missing can not be scored.
Analysis of The total score can not be calculated if data is missing in at least one of
missing data the subscales.

REFERENCE(S):

Bouhassira D, Attal N, Fermanian J, Alchaar H, Gautron M, Masquelier E, Rostaing S, Lanteri-

Minet M, Collin E, Grisart J, Boureau F. Development and validation of the Neuropathic Pain
Symptom Inventory. Pain. 2004 Apr;108(3):248-57

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