Convergent Validity of the Dutch Central Sensitization Inventory: Associations with Psychophysical Pain Measures, Quality of Life, Disability, and Pain Cognitions in Patients with Chronic Spinal Pain

Objective Symptoms of central sensitization (CS) have been described in patients with chronic spinal pain (CSP). Although a gold standard to diagnose CS is lacking, psychophysical pain measures are often used. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is proposed as an alternative method and indirect tool for the evaluation of CS symptomatology. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the convergent validity of the CSI by investigating the association with psychophysical pain measures and self‐reported measures of current pain intensity, quality of life, disability, and catastrophizing in CSP patients. Methods One hundred sixteen patients with nonspecific CSP were included in the present study. Patients completed the CSI, were subjected to pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm, and completed questionnaires for current pain intensity, quality of life, pain disability, and pain catastrophizing. Results Higher CSI scores were weakly correlated with lower PPTs (−0.276 ≤ r ≤ −0.237; all P ≤ 0.01) and not with CPM efficacy (r = 0.017; P = 0.858). Higher CSI scores were moderately correlated with higher current pain intensity (r = 0.320; P