Apparatus and method for providing a multidimensional measurement of pain

摘要

An instrument for providing a multidimensional indication of pain includes an elongated base having a series of sensory pain descriptors and emotional pain descriptors displayed thereon. A selection indicator next to each descriptor is adjustable by a person to indicate whether that descriptor accurately describes the pain the person is feeling. The descriptors may be assigned a numerical rank so that the total of the ranks of the selected descriptors affords a quantitative measurement of the sensory and emotional dimensions of a person's pain. A further cognitive dimension of the person's pain can be measured with an elongated pain scale on the instrument. This scale provides a visible indicia symbolizing the range of pain one can experience and a scale indicator slidable on the instrument to a selected position along the scale to indicate the intensity of pain being experienced by the person. A second quantitative scale cooperates with the same scale indicator to afford a ready quantitative reading corresponding to the selected position on the elongated pain scale.