Patient-reported outcomes and quantitative sensory testing: are they useful to investigate neuropathic pain mechanisms and predict therapeutic response?

Currently, there are no quantitative pain biomarkers mechanistically assessing the nociceptive system function or analgesic efficacy, which is crucial for developing personalized pain therapies. This lack of specific biomarkers is likely a significant factor in the failure to develop new targeted pain management strategies, potentially leading to the overuse of opioids in chronic pain. Two methodologies-patient-reported outcomes and quantitative sensory testing-offer potential clinical markers that could help close these gaps. This brief review will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches as well as their implications for the future.