McGill Pain Questionnaire
Encyclopedia
The McGill Pain Questionnaire, also known as McGill pain index, is a scale of rating pain
developed at McGill University
by Melzack
and Torgerson in 1971.
To use the questionnaire, circle the words that describe your pain but do not circle more than one word in a group. Then when you have that done, go back and circle the three words in groups 1-10 that most convey your pain response. Pick the two words in groups 11-15 that do the same thing. Then pick one word in group 16. Finally, pick 1 word in groups 17-20. At the end you should have seven words that you can take to your doctor that will help describe both the quality of your pain and the intensity of it.
You can use some words more than once.
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
developed at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
by Melzack
Ronald Melzack
Ronald Melzack, is a Canadian psychologist.After studying for his Ph.D. in 1954 with D. O. Hebb at McGill University in Montreal, he began to work with patients who suffered from "phantom limb" pain — people who feel pain in an arm or leg that has been removed...
and Torgerson in 1971.
To use the questionnaire, circle the words that describe your pain but do not circle more than one word in a group. Then when you have that done, go back and circle the three words in groups 1-10 that most convey your pain response. Pick the two words in groups 11-15 that do the same thing. Then pick one word in group 16. Finally, pick 1 word in groups 17-20. At the end you should have seven words that you can take to your doctor that will help describe both the quality of your pain and the intensity of it.
Sample questionnaire
| Group | Words |
|---|---|
| 1 | Flickering, Pulsing, Quivering, Throbbing, Beating, Pounding |
| 2 | Jumping, Flashing, Shooting |
| 3 | Pricking, Boring, Drilling, Stabbing |
| 4 | Sharp, Cutting, Lacerating |
| 5 | Pinching, Pressing, Gnawing, Cramping, Crushing |
| 6 | Tugging, Pulling, Wrenching |
| 7 | Hot, Burning, Scalding, Searing |
| 8 | Tingling, Itchy, Smarting, Stinging |
| 9 | Dull, Sore, Hurting, Aching, Heavy |
| 10 | Tender, Taut (tight), Rasping, Splitting |
| 11 | Tiring, Exhausting |
| 12 | Sickening, Suffocating |
| 13 | Fearful, Frightful, Terrifying |
| 14 | Punishing, Grueling, Cruel, Vicious, Killing |
| 15 | Wretched, Blinding |
| 16 | Annoying, Troublesome, Miserable, Intense, Unbearable |
| 17 | Spreading, Radiating, Penetrating, Piercing |
| 18 | Tight, Numb, Squeezing, Drawing, Tearing |
| 19 | Cool, Cold, Freezing |
| 20 | Nagging, Nauseating, Agonizing, Dreadful, Torturing |
You can use some words more than once.