The Symptom Severity (SS) scale score can be used in the evaluation of a patient with possible fibromyalgia. This was slightly modified in 2016 by authors from multiple institutions in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The difference from the previous version is that somatic complaints (headache, lower abdominal pain/cramps, depression) are separated out individually. The time frame for the first 3 parameters is over the past week while over the past 6 months for the somatic symptoms.
Parameters:
(1) severity of fatigue in past week
(2) severity of waking unrefreshed in past week
(3) severity of cognitive symptoms in past week
(4) headache in past 6 months
(5) lower abdominal pain/cramps in past 6 months
(6) depression in past 6 months
Parameter
Finding
Points
fatigue
none
0
slight or mild
1
moderate
2
severe and pervasive
3
waking unrefreshed
none
0
slight or mild
1
moderate
2
severe and pervasive
3
cognitive symptoms
none
0
slight or mild
1
moderate
2
severe and pervasive
3
headache
absent
0
present
1
lower abdominal pain or cramps
absent
0
present
1
depression
absent
0
present
1
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 12
• The high the score the more severe the symptoms.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
