| Name of the Instrument/Tool | Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) |
| First Description |
Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, Muir-Nash J, Steinberg AD. The fatigue severity scale: application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Archives of neurology. 1989;46(10):1121-3. |
| Year | 1989 |
| Domains | |
| Concept of constructs | Fatigue |
| Population/Disease | Generic |
| Originally developed for | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) |
| Other rheumatic diseases where can be applied (only if validated) |
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Osteoarthritis (OA), Plaque psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) |
| Additional population with no rheumatic diseases |
Yes neurologic disorders |
| Language: Originally published in | English |
| Available in Language | Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish |
| REFERENCE IDENTIFICATION | |
| Author/s | Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, Muir-Nash J, Steinberg AD |
| Title | The Fatigue Severity Scale: application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosis. |
| Journal | Archives of Neurology |
| Year | 1989 |
| Vol | 46 |
| Num | 10 |
| Pages | 1121-3 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Other references of interest | |
| Link | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18050225 |
| Brief Description |
Measurement of fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review. |
| Link | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8229906 |
| Brief Description |
The measurement of fatigue: a new instrument. |
| Instrument/Tool Translations References | |
| Link | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18612927 |
| Brief Description |
Reliability and validity of the Fatigue Severity Scale in Swedish for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Scand J Rheumatol 2008;37:269–77. |
| DEVELOPER CONTACT INFORMATION | |
| Correspondence to | Lauren B Krupp |
| lkrupp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu | |
| Address | Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8121 |
| Website | --- |
| Available | --- |
| Links | --- |
| DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUMENT | |
| Type Of Measure | Composite Index, Questionnaire, Scale |
| Brief Description |
The FSS was developed to assess disabling fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and was published in 1989, but since then has also been used in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, with a modified version in psoriatic arthritis (mFSS), as well as many long-term conditions (e.g., cancer, neurologic disorders). It covers physical, social, or cognitive effects of fatigue (e.g., function, work, motivation). |
| Number of Items | 9 |
| Range | 9-63 |
| Responses options/scale |
Yes 7 point Lickert Scale ranging from “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree” (1–7). |
| Developed for | Clinical practice, Research |
| PRACTICAL APPLICATION | |
| Method of administration | Self-administered |
| Recommendations to score |
Items are scored 1–7, summed, then averaged to produce a global score. |
| Score Interpretation | Scores range from 9 (no fatigue) to 63 (maximum fatigue), with higher scores reflect greater fatigue |
| Cut-off points | FSS>36 indicates severe fatigue |
| Cut-off points applied to | --- |
| Smallest detectable change if described | --- |
| Smallest detectable change applied to | --- |
| Completion time by the patient | 0 minutes |
| Scoring time by the assessor | 0 minutes |
| Training to score | Not necessary |
| Strengths | Useful in clinical practice & research, Widely used |
| Limitations | --- |
| OTHER COMMENTS | |
| Other Comments | --- |