The language of pain: Intensity

Abstract

Thirty-nine adjectives which may be used to describe a pain experience were rated on an "intensity" continuum by 93 subjects, and in a second study by an additional 90 subjects. In each study these ratings were intercorrelated and factor-analyzed. The first 6 factors extracted were rotated to a simple structure criterion. The first factor was identified as an "intensity" factor. Examination of the adjectives indicated that intensity relates to "affective-evaluative" adjectives rather than "sensory" ones. The implications of these findings for the language a patient may use to communicate the intensity of a pain are discussed.