Quantitative Sensory Testing

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is crucial for diagnosing neuropathic pain by measuring responses to controlled sensory stimuli like heat, cold, and mechanical pressure. It assesses heat pain and sensitivity and can identify paradoxical and heat pain sensations often indicative of neuropathic conditions.

Psychological factors can significantly influence Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) outcomes by affecting a patient's pain perception. Stress, anxiety, and expectations can alter how pain stimuli are processed, underscoring the need to consider psychological assessments alongside the evaluation of patients' QST results.

Yes, Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) can be instrumental in identifying individuals at risk of developing disorders characterized by increased pain sensitivity, such as fibromyalgia pain or chronic post-surgical pain, by measuring baseline pain thresholds and responses to painful stimuli.