Aspects of Criterion Validity and Sensitivity of the BAS-Health Scale in Chronic Pain Patients - A Pilot Study of Patients at a Multidisciplinary Pain Centre

Abstract

A new body awareness scale (the BAS-H) has been recently developed. The aims of the present study were to investigate structure among the individual items, correlate the BAS-H with different aspects of pain, depression and incapacity benefit and to investigate whether it is sensitive as an outcome evaluation tool after rehabilitation. Subjects and methods: Patients with chronic pain participated. There were 54 patients with whiplash-associated disorders (the WAD group), 42 patients with long periods of incapacity benefit (the mixed pain group) and a sub-population (n=25) that took part in a rehabilitation program (the rehabilitation group). All patients were rated using the observation part of the BAS-H and answered questionnaires concerning aspects of depression, pain and incapacity benefit. Results: It was not possible to confirm that the three indices of the BAS-H were valid. Aspects of depression, pain and incapacity benefit correlated with the BAS-H only in the WAD group. The rehabilitation group showed significant improvements in two indices of the BAS-H after the rehabilitation program. Conclusion: The BAS-H reflected aspects of impairment, disability and health level in the WAD group and has potential as a sensitive outcome variable for rehabilitation. However, the structure among the individual items is unclear and the three indices suggested are not valid.