How is CRPS diagnosed?

One of the biggest challenges for CRPS is that there is no diagnostic test to establish whether someone has CRPS. Doctors have to rely on clinical tests and observations together with the reports from the patients themselves. There are several criteria sets, but they often lead to very different results with the same group of patients.

In 1994 the IASP (Interantional Association for the Study of Pain) formulated new criteria to make the diagnostic process more reliable. At present these criteria are a very important instrument. However, in some cases diagnosing CRPS remains a difficult task.

TREND aims to make a contribution to this process by developing valid and reliable diagnostic instruments for evaluating the various aspects of CRPS. Some TREND partners also contribute to the planned update of multidisciplinary guidelines for diagnosing and treating CRPS.