Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)

Clinical intent

The CSI,developed in 2012 [1], is a two-part questionnaire that contains a survey (Part A) that assesses the frequency of health-related symptoms associated with central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) and a brief survey (Part B) asking if patients have been diagnosed with specific disorders, including seven separate CSSs [2].

Clinical interpretation

The highest possible total score is 100.

Higher CSI scores represent greater self-reported symptomology. A cutoff score of 40 or greater has shown acceptable psychometrics for identifying patients with central sensitivity syndromes [2] and has been recommended in guidelines for pain mechanism classification. [3]

References

[1] Mayer TG, Neblett R, Cohen H, et al. The development and psychometric validation of the central sensitization inventory. Pain Pract. 2012;12(4):276-285. doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00493.x
[2] Neblett R, Cohen H, Choi Y, et al. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): establishing clinically significant values for identifying central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample. J Pain. 2013;14(5):438-445. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2012.11.012
[3] Nijs J, Apeldoorn A, Hallegraeff H, et al. Low back pain: guidelines for the clinical classification of predominant neuropathic, nociceptive, or central sensitization pain. Pain Physician. 2015;18(3):E333-E346.