P-3^® Test Helps Identify Solutions for Chronic Pain Patients

September 27, 1999, MINNEAPOLIS—According to recent estimates, pain accounts for 80% of all office visits made to physicians each year. In the past, many physicians had to rely on their own subjective evaluation to determine if any psychological factors were impeding a patient's progress. Now they are turning to the P-3 test from NCS to help document their observations through an objective assessment of depression, anxiety and somatization-the factors most frequently associated with persistent pain.

The P-3 (Pain Patient Profile) test, developed by C. David Tollison, PhD, and Jerry C. Langley, DC, was normed using both pain patients and subjects from the community. This cross-validating approach helps assure that results are more relevant to pain patients than more traditional assessments may be. The report provides essential information about chronic pain patients' scores and gives very specific treatment recommendations. The P-3 progress report has the capacity to help physicians demonstrate treatment effectiveness, assess patient's progress and monitor clinical outcomes, while comparing pain patients to each other and to a community sample.

How the P-3 Test is Used

The P-3 test is used in a variety of ways, including to help:

• evaluate a patient's emotional readiness for surgery;



• assess, document and justify a need for further psychological evalation;



• easily and inexpensively measure pre- and post-treatment pain status to evaluate treatment effectiveness and monitor clinical outcomes;



• facilitate communication with psychologists



• support evaluations for cases involving orthopedic, occupational and auto injuries; worker's compensation; and long-term disabilities.