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Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD)

Observational pain score for non-verbal patients with dementia.

Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD)
Breathing (independent of vocalisation)
Negative vocalisation
Facial expression
Body language
Consolability
Result0 points

Suggests no pain (0 none – 10 severe).

When to use

  • Assessing pain in patients with advanced dementia who cannot self-report.

Formula

Sum of five observed items (breathing, negative vocalisation, facial expression, body language, consolability), each 0–2. Range 0–10.

References

  1. Warden V, Hurley AC, Volicer L. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2003;4(1):9-15.