Pain Researchers Defend New Diagnostic Framework for Hard-to-Treat Conditions

Scientists are clarifying how doctors should diagnose nociplastic pain—a poorly understood condition affecting millions—after peer pushback on their clinical criteria. The debate matters because clearer diagnostic standards could reduce unnecessary testing and help insurers and health systems allocate resources more effectively for patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Originaltitel: Reply to Schouten et al. Comment on “Bilika et al. Applying Nociplastic Pain Criteria in Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Vignette Study. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 1179”