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. 2024 Feb 28:5:1351602.
doi: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1351602. eCollection 2024.

Beyond numbers: integrating qualitative analysis into quantitative sensory testing for neuropathic pain

Martine Bordeleau  1   2 , Matthieu Vincenot  1   2 , Miroslav Bačkonja  3 , Yenisel Cruz-Almeida  4   5   6 , Julia Forstenpointner  7 , Lynn Gauthier  8   9   10   11 , Serge Marchand  12   13 , Catherine Mercier  14   15 , Don Daniel Ocay  16   17 , Michel PrudHomme  18   19 , Hélène Ruel  20 , Jan Vollert  21 , Guillaume Léonard  1   22
Affiliations

Beyond numbers: integrating qualitative analysis into quantitative sensory testing for neuropathic pain

Martine Bordeleau et al. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). .

Abstract

This article investigates the benefits of adopting qualitative and quantitative sensory testing (QQST) in sensory assessment, with a focus on understanding neuropathic pain. The innovative QQST method combines participant qualitative experiences with quantitative psychophysical measurements, offering a more varied interpretation of sensory abnormalities and normal sensory function. This article also explores the steps for the optimization of the method by identifying qualitative signs of sensory abnormalities and standardizing data collection. By leveraging the inherent subjectivity in the test design and participant responses, the QQST method contributes to a more holistic exploration of both normal and abnormal sensory experiences. This article positions the QQST approach as a foundational element within the Sensory Evaluation Network, uniting international experts to harmonize qualitative and quantitative sensory evaluation methods.

Keywords: benefits; limitations; mixed approach; qualitative; quantitative; sensory testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

JF reports a grant (FO 1311/1-1) from the German Research Foundation (DFG); personal fees and non-financial support from Grünenthal GmbH and Sanofi Genzyme GmbH, personal fees from Bayer, non-financial support from Novartis, outside the submitted work. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
This scenario is based on a real-life event witnessed by our team during a previous QST assessment, in which the subject initially described a normal brush sensation on his skin in an unaffected area. However, in the painful area, the subject reported a very different sensation of water flowing on his skin (12). This situation illustrates how traditional QST methods can miss critical information that could indicate the presence of unusual sensations that could signal sensory abnormalities. Relying solely on traditional QST methods may result in an incomplete understanding of the sensory profile.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Potential classification of qualitative signs of sensory abnormalities observed during the QQST procedure. *When we use the term “sensory gain”, we refer to an increased sensitivity or enhanced perception of sensory stimuli, which is contrary to “sensory loss” that indicates reduced or absent sensation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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