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

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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.