|
Overview :
The Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ) is a 13
item self-report scale for patients with chronic pain or disabilities. It can
help identify somatic complaints that may be associated with psychological
responses such as anxiety or depression. The authors are from Prestwich
Hospital in Manchester, England.
Somatic perceptions:
(1) feeling hot all over
(2) sweating all over
(3) dizziness
(4) blurring of vision
(5) feeling faint
(6) nausea
(7) pain or ache in stomach
(8) stomach churning
(9) mouth becoming dry
(10) muscles in neck aching
(11) legs feeling weak
(12) muscles twitching and jumping
(13) tense feeling across forehead
|
Response for Each
Somatic Perception
|
Points
|
|
not at all
|
0
|
|
a little, slightly
|
1
|
|
a great deal, quite a bit
|
2
|
|
extremely, could not have been worse
|
3
|
where:
• I would use a 5 point scale, allowing for moderate
intensity.
total score =
= SUM(points for all 13 items)
Interpretation:
• minimum
score: 0
• maximum
score: 39
• The higher
the score the more marked the general somatic symptoms.
• The number of
perceptions at each intensity level can help gauge the number of limiting
symptoms.
• A person with
significant somatic complaints would be a candidate for psychological
interventions to aid coping.
Performance:
• The test is easy to administer and has high patient
compliance.
• The authors
compared the scale with the Zung Depression Inventory, the first 3 clinical
scales of the MMPI, and electromyographic readings.
|