The association between pressure pain sensitivity, and answers to questionnaires estimating psychological stress level in the workplace A feasibility study

Abstract

Objectives. To examine the association between pressure pain sensitivity (PPS) at the sternum as a measure of persistent stress assessed by questionnaires in a working population. Methods. In 308 office employees PPS measurement was compared to Quality of life questionnaires: SF-36 for general physical and mental health, the Major Depression Inventory (MDI); 50 specific clinical symptoms for persistent stress; subjective evaluation of present and long-term stress level on a 7-point ordinal scale. Repeated measures were used to validate the PPS method. Results. A significant correlation between PPS and a persistent stress condition evaluated from SF-36, MDI and a number of clinical symptoms were found (all p < 0.01). Persons with PPS ≥ 60 units had an elevated health risk profile based on the questionnaires, when compared to persons with PPS ≤ 40 (all p < 0.05) (all odds ratios > 2). When categorizing a person with PPS ≥ 60 as persistently stressed (27% of subject), and using SF-36, MDI and the number of stress signs for risk calculation, the remaining 73% of the subjects, with no elevated health risk factors, were identified with an 80% specificity. During home measurements, with a full day between measurements, between-measurement correlation coefficient was 0.87 and categorization reproducibility 87% (both p < 0.001). Conclusions. In office workers, the PPS measurement correlated to several QOL questionnaires and was found useful for persistent stress screening. Validation studies demonstrated sufficient reproducibility including during self measurement at home.

Key Words::

• Psychological stress
• physiological stress
• SF 36 questionnaire
• Depression questionnaire
• stress test
• depression

Declaration of interest: Dr Soeren Ballegaard is a shareholder of the company Ull Care A/S, who holds the patent of the instrument, the Ull meter, used in this study to measure pressure pain sensitivity. Accordingly, Søren Ballegaard has not taken part in the examination of the subjects, the calculation of data, and the evaluation of the results.