Dimensionality and Reliability of the Central Sensitization Inventory in a Pooled Multicountry Sample
(2018) The Journal of Pain — Vol. 19, n° 3, p. 317-329 (2018)
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- Abstract
- Central sensitization (CS) involves the amplification of neural signaling within the central nervous system, which evokes pain hypersensitivity. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) assesses 25 overlapping health-related symptom dimensions that have been reported to be associated with CS-related disorders. Previous studies have reported satisfactory test-retest reliability and internal consistency, but factor analyses have exhibited conflicting results in different language versions. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to thoroughly examine the dimensionality and reliability of the CSI, with pooled data from 1,987 individuals, collected in several countries. The principal component analysis suggested that 1 general factor of CS best described the structure. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a bifactor model, which accounted for the covariance among CSI items, with regard to 1 general factor and 4 orthogonal factors, fit the CSI structure better than the unidimensional and the 4-factor models. Additional analyses indicated substantial reliability for the general factor (ie, Cronbach α = .92; ω = .95; and ω hierarchical = .89). Reliability results for the 4 specific factors were considered too low to be used for subscales. The results of this study clearly suggest that only total CSI scores should be used and reported. PERSPECTIVE: As far as we know, this is the first study that has examined the factor structure and reliability of the CSI in a large multicountry sample. The CSI is currently considered the leading self-report measure of CS-related symptoms worldwide.
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Cuesta-Vargas, A. I., Neblett, R., Chiarotto, A., Kregel, J., Nijs, J., van Wilgen, C. P., Pitance, L., Knezevic, A., Gatchel, R. J., Mayer, T. G., Viti, C., Roldan-Jiménez, C., Testa, M., Caumo, W., Jeremic-Knezevic, M., & Luciano, J. V. (2018). Dimensionality and Reliability of the Central Sensitization Inventory in a Pooled Multicountry Sample. The Journal of Pain, 19(3), 317-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.006 (Original work published 2018)