Internal structure and validity of the multidimensional pain inventory, Italian language version

Objective. The aim of the study is an investigation of the psychometric cha racteristics of the Italian translation of the Multidimensional Pain Invent ory and a comparision with the American, German, Swedish and Dutch versions of the MPI. Method. The Italian translation of the MPI was administered together with M elzack McGill Pain Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger State- Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Visual Analog Scales. Confirmatory factor anal yses were accomplished on the MPI scores. Furthermore, reliability, interco rrelations, and convergent validity of MPI were evaluated. Patients. Participants were 220 patients suffering from a variety of chroni c pain syndromes (cephalalgia 45.8%; low-back pain 30.5%). Results. Confirmatory factor analyses suggest changes to all 3 sections of the MPI-nr. Factor structure, after having excluded several items sorted ac cording to the 3 sections of the questionnaire, is basically the same as in other versions of the MPI. Internal consistency analyses fielded acceptabl e reliability (Cronbach cu coefficients) for 11 out of 13 scales. Conclusions, After making appropriate changes in all 3 sections of the inve ntory, the MPI is substantially suitable for use in cross-cultural and inte rnational research.