Back Pain Classification Scale (BPCS)

· Squeezing

· splitting

· continuous

· aching

· torturing

· transient

· gruelling

· pricking

· pulling

· periodic

· troublesome

· tender

· nagging

· throbbing

· intermittent

· quivering

· numb

· suffocating

· radiating

· nauseating

· taut

· heavy

· drilling

· frightful

· boring

· jumping

· crushing

· miserable

· dreadful

· pinching

· cutting

· drawing

· flashing

· cruel

· rasping

· killing

· penetrating

· blinding

· fearful

· annoying

· spreading

· beating

· exhausting

· tearing

· cramping

· wrenching

· rhythmic

· lacerating

· pounding

· shooting

· wretched

· momentary

· hurting

· intense

· dull

· hot

· pins and needles

· pulsing

· punishing

· superficial

· stinging

· burning

· deep

· brief

· sharp

· localized

· cold

· tiring

· unlocalized

· flickering

· scalding

· spasms

· unbearable

· gnawing

· diffuse

· tugging

· stabbing

· surface

· agonizing

· tingling

· stiff

· piercing

· freezing

· skin pain

· smarting

· tight

· muscle pain

· steady

· itchy

· bone pain

· constant

· pressing

· joint pain

· lancinating

· sore

· moving pain

· terrifying

· sickening

· electrical

· vicious

· searing

· shock-like

· cool

This instrument can be found at: www.a4ebm.org/sites/default/files/Measuring%20Health.pdf

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C.‚ Whisler‚ W.W‚ et al. (1978). Affective and sensory dimensions of back pain. Pain‚ 4:273–281.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C.(1979). The detection of psychological disturbance in patients with low back pain. J Psychosom Res‚ 23:149–154.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C.(1979). Psychological disturbance and pain report differences in both organic and non-organic low back pain patients. Pain‚ 7:187–195.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C. (1979). Validity of a Back Pain Classification Scale among patients with low back pain not associated with demonstrable organic disease. J Psychosom Res‚ 23:301–306.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C.(1980). Validity of a Back Pain Classification Scale for detecting psychological disturbance as measured by the MMPI. Journal of Clinical Psychology‚ 36:186–189.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Garron‚ D.C.‚ McNeill‚T.w‚ et al. (1980). Organic Status‚ Psychological Disturbance‚ and Pain Report ch‎aracteristics in Low-Back-Pain Patients on Compensation. Spine‚ 7(4): 398-401.

Leavitt‚ F. (1982). Comparison of three measures for detecting psychological disturbance in patients with low back pain. Pain‚ 13:299–305.

Leavitt‚ F. (1985). Pain and deception: use of verbal pain measurement as a diagnostic aid in differentiating between clinical and simulated low-back pain. J Psychosom Res‚ 29:495–505.

Biedermann HJ‚ Monga‚ T.N.‚ Shanks‚ G.L‚ et al. (1986). The classification of back pain patients: functional versus organic. J Psychosom Res‚ 30:273–276.

Leavitt‚ F. (1987). Use of verbal pain measurement in the detection of hidden psychological morbidity among low back pain patients with objective organic findings. Psychol Health‚1:315–326.

Leavitt‚ F.‚ Gilbert‚ N.S.‚ Mooney‚ V. (1994). Development of the Hispanic Low Back Pain Symptom Check List. Spine‚ 19:1048–1052.

McDowell‚ Ian. (2006). Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires‚ Third Edition. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS