McGill Pain Questionnaire [MPQ-20]

Description

The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) is one of the most widely recognized instruments for the multidimensional assessment of pain. It was developed by Ronald Melzack at McGill University and was formally introduced in 1975 to assess not only pain intensity but also the qualitative characteristics of the pain experience.

Unlike unidimensional pain scales, which primarily focus on how intense pain is, the MPQ examines several dimensions of pain through an organized set of descriptive terms. This approach enables a more comprehensive assessment of the patient’s pain experience and can be useful both in clinical practice and in research settings.

Purpose

The main purpose of the MPQ is the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the subjective experience of pain. It can be used to identify the characteristics of pain, monitor changes over time, and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic or other clinical interventions.

Its multidimensional approach is particularly important because individuals experiencing a similar level of pain intensity may describe substantially different sensory and emotional experiences.

Questionnaire Structure

The original McGill Pain Questionnaire includes 78 descriptive words, organized into 20 categories. These descriptors reflect different qualities of pain and are primarily grouped into sensory, affective, and evaluative dimensions.

Respondents select the words that best describe the pain they are experiencing. In this way, the MPQ goes beyond a simple numerical rating of pain intensity and provides information about the qualitative characteristics and emotional impact of the pain experience.

Scoring and Statistical Analysis

The conventional scoring system of the MPQ is primarily based on the Pain Rating Index (PRI), which is calculated from the numerical values assigned to the selected pain descriptors.

Additional indicators may include the Number of Words Chosen (NWC) and the Present Pain Intensity (PPI). These measures provide complementary information regarding the severity and characteristics of pain.

The resulting scores may be used for descriptive and comparative statistical analyses, including comparisons between patient groups, time points, or therapeutic interventions. In general, higher scores indicate a greater pain burden.

The original MPQ should be distinguished from the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). The short form was developed later and includes 15 principal pain descriptors, of which 11 assess sensory aspects of pain and 4 assess affective characteristics.

Validity and Reliability

The McGill Pain Questionnaire has been extensively used for the assessment of both acute and chronic pain. Its multidimensional structure enables systematic evaluation of different aspects of the patient’s pain experience.

Proper administration requires that respondents adequately understand the meaning of the descriptive terms, since the selection of these words is a central component of the assessment process.

The Greek version of the MPQ has undergone psychometric evaluation, with findings supporting its validity and reliability, particularly among patients experiencing cancer-related pain and receiving palliative care.

A Greek version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire has also been developed and psychometrically evaluated.

Applications

The MPQ can be applied in both clinical and research contexts involving acute or chronic pain. It is particularly useful for evaluating therapeutic interventions, monitoring pain-related symptoms over time, and comparing pain experiences across different clinical populations.

One of its major strengths is its ability to conceptualize pain as a multidimensional experience, rather than treating it exclusively as a numerical measure of intensity.

References

Melzack R. The McGill Pain Questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods. Pain. 1975;1(3):277–299.

Melzack R. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Pain. 1987;30(2):191–197.

Mystakidou K, Parpa E, Tsilika E, et al. Greek McGill Pain Questionnaire: validation and utility in cancer patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2002;24(4):379–387.

Georgoudis G, Watson PJ, Oldham JA. The development and validation of a Greek version of the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. European Journal of Pain. 2000.