McGill Pain Questionnaire

The McGill Pain Questionnaire, also known as McGill pain index, is a scale of rating pain developed at McGill University by Melzack and Torgerson in 1971. It is a self-report questionnaire that allows individuals to give their doctor a good description of the quality and intensity of pain that they are experiencing. Users first select a single word from each group that best reflects their pain. Users then review the list and select the three words from groups 1-10 that best describe their pain, two words from groups 11-15, a single word from group 16, and then one word from groups 17-20. After completing the questionnaire, users will have selected seven words that best describe their pain. Users can use some words more than once.

Sample questionnaire

Group	Words
1	Flickering, Pulsing, Quivering, Throbbing, Beating, Pounding
2	Jumping, Flashing, Shooting
3	Pricking, Boring, Drilling, Stabbing
4	Sharp, Cutting, Lacerating
5	Pinching, Pressing, Gnawing, Cramping, Crushing
6	Tugging, Pulling, Wrenching
7	Hot, Burning, Scalding, Searing
8	Tingling, Itchy, Smarting, Stinging
9	Dull, Sore, Hurting, Aching, Heavy
10	Tender, Taut (tight), Rasping, Splitting
11	Tiring, Exhausting
12	Sickening, Suffocating
13	Fearful, Frightful, Terrifying
14	Punishing, Grueling, Cruel, Vicious, Killing
15	Wretched, Blinding
16	Annoying, Troublesome, Miserable, Intense, Unbearable
17	Spreading, Radiating, Penetrating, Piercing
18	Tight, Numb, Squeezing, Drawing, Tearing
19	Cool, Cold, Freezing
20	Nagging, Nauseating, Agonizing, Dreadful, Torturing

External links

• The McGill Pain Questionnaire
• The McGill Pain Questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods.