Objective. To validate the 2011 modification of the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) preliminary criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (2011ModCr) and develop alternative criteria in a sample of patients with diverse pain disorders that are commonly seen in everyday practice by pain specialists, rheumatologists, and psychologists. Methods. Eight clinicians from geographically varied locations in the US evaluated patients with chronic pain and psychiatric disorders using a standard set of questions that included the 2011ModCr questions, the Symptom Impact Questionnaire (SIQR), a 28-area pain location inventory (PLI), and the Short Form 36. Alternative diagnostic criteria were developed from the same data set using logistic regression and receiver operating curve analysis. Results. Complete data on 321 patients were evaluated; there were 135 patients with fibromyalgia (according to the 1990 ACR criteria) and 186 patients with 16 other common chronic pain problems. Comparing the 2011ModCr with the 1990 ACR criteria provided a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 67%, and a correct classification of 74%. Alternative criteria were derived from the 10-item symptom score from the SIQR symptoms and the 28-area PLI. Maximal diagnostic accuracy was obtained with >17 pain sites (range 0 -28) and an SIQR symptom score of >21 (range 0 -50). These alternative criteria had a diagnostic sensitivity of 81%, a specificity of 80%, and a correct classification of 80%. Conclusion. The 2011ModCr had robust operating characteristics. Alternative criteria based on symptom items from the SIQR and pain locations from the PLI had comparable operating characteristics, with somewhat better specificity and ease of use.

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The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been used extensively in the assessment of chronic pain patients. More recent studies using cluster-analytic techniques, investigation of sub-scales, and factor analysis have refined its usefulness. The present study factor-analyzed MMPI-2 data from a sample of 114 chronic pain patients from two different treatment programs. MMPI-2 t scores for the validity and clinical scales, as well as the Harris and Lingoes sub-scales for scales 1, 2 and 3, were used in the analysis. Four interpretable factors emerged and were labeled 'Psychological Dysfunction', 'Interpersonal Isolation', 'Psychomotor Retardation', and 'Physical Dysfunction' to reflect factor loadings. Results are discussed in terms of demonstrating support for using the MMPI-2 factors to refine the assessment of chronic pain patient characteristics.

The purpose of the present study is to determine the effects of two types of status on judges' sentencing decisions. One type emphasized the defendant's history of conformity (conformity status); the other emphasized his power (power status). Also examined were the crime's outcome for the group (activity significance), and its severity (degree of deviance). Subjects were 81 university students assuming the role of sentencing judge and presented with case descriptions of defendants. Higher levels of assigned punishment were significantly related to higher levels of degree of deviance and activity significance, and to lower levels of conformity status. Power status had no significant influence on punishment decisions. It is concluded that predicting differential treatment of defendants requires an understanding of several variables, and that the importance of status as a factor depends on the particular type of status involved.

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