A standardised scale to measure beliefs about controlling pain (B.P.C.Q.): A preliminary study

Abstract

A standardised scale is reported which has been designed to measure beliefs about controlling pain. Three subscales are included to assess (1) beliefs in the internal or personal control of pain, (IS) (2) beliefs that powerful others, namely doctors, control pain (PD) and (3) beliefs that pain is controlled by chance events (CH). Six samples were selected so that comparisons could be made between pain and pain-free individuals, and between ill people with and without patient status and the healthy, so that the effects of pain, illness and health on responses could be separately assessed (N=281).