A study published in 'The Journal of Pain' explained that averaging across the 10-item set, the PSQ-short score depicted a structurally robust, gender-consistent and practical estimate for general pain sensitivity.

For experimental pain analysis, self-reported Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) proves to be a valid supplement. But, the latent constructs investigating the originally proposed two sub-scores (PSQ-moderate, PSQ-minor) and one general score (PSQ-total)  have not been consistently examined in between genders or population-based studies.

PSQ structures were explored and established among 4,820 participants of age 18-93 years of the Cooperative Health Research In South Tyrol (CHRIS) from constructs upon empirical evidence or single construct hypothesized by expert knowledge.

Three alternative sets of PSQ imagined painful situations were identified using exploratory factor analysis. The three alternative set had 14, 10 and 9 items which represented simple structures of the rotated factor loadings of direct interpretation. 

The confirmatory analysis of one latent factor revealed the improved fit than the alternative sets, consistent structural features between genders and acceptable goodness-of-fit overall with the 10-item set. Among two latent constructs, distinct analyses based on 14- and 9-item sets showed considerable correlations. One first-order general factor explained a large part of the variances of two second-order factors as described in the higher-order CFA with each set. The factorial layout of the PSQ was described in one dominant construct consistently.