Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What is allodynia?

1. Pain from a normally non-painful stimulus

2. A form of chronic pain without a known cause

3. Pain that occurs only during movement

4. A psychological response to pain

The correct answer is: Pain from a normally non-painful stimulus

Allodynia refers specifically to a condition where pain is experienced from stimuli that typically do not provoke pain. This means that a person suffering from allodynia might feel discomfort from light touch, temperature changes, or other stimuli that are usually considered harmless. This condition often occurs in various chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, or certain migraine disorders. In contrast, the other options address different types or manifestations of pain. A form of chronic pain without a known cause does not define allodynia but rather describes conditions like undiagnosed fibromyalgia or idiopathic pain syndromes. Pain occurring only during movement refers to a different pain phenomenon, often associated with structural or mechanical issues, and does not fully encompass what allodynia entails. Lastly, a psychological response to pain indicates issues like anxiety or depression impacting the perception of pain, which is separate from the purely nociceptive experience that defines allodynia.