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Sheehan Disability Scale
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About Sheehan Disability Scale
Scale Name
Sheehan Disability Scale
Author Details
David V. Sheehan
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) is a brief, self-report questionnaire designed to assess functional impairment caused by psychiatric or medical symptoms across three key life domains: work/school, social life/leisure activities, and family life/home responsibilities. Developed in 1983 by David V. Sheehan, the SDS was introduced in his book The Anxiety Disease to provide a simple, standardized tool for measuring the impact of mental health conditions, initially focusing on anxiety disorders like panic disorder. Its versatility has since made it a widely used outcome measure in clinical trials and practice for various disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and pathological gambling.
The SDS consists of three core items, each rated on an 11-point visual analog scale (0 = “not at all” to 10 = “extremely”), evaluating the extent to which symptoms disrupt functioning in the three domains. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater impairment; scores ≥5 on any domain suggest significant functional impact. Two optional items assess days lost and days unproductive due to symptoms, providing additional context without contributing to the total score. Its brevity and high face validity make it ideal for routine clinical use, while its sensitivity to treatment effects supports its role in research.
Psychologists, psychiatrists, and researchers value the SDS for its ability to capture patient-reported functional outcomes, complementing symptom severity measures. Its translations into over 40 languages and adaptations for adults, adolescents, and children (e.g., Child Sheehan Disability Scale) ensure global applicability. The SDS facilitates treatment planning, monitors progress, and informs interventions like pharmacotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, helping clinicians address the real-world impact of mental health conditions.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the SDS from a credible source, such as The Anxiety Disease, authorized research platforms, or Dr. Sheehan’s website (https://www.davidVsheehan.org), ensuring proper licensing.
- Explain the purpose to the respondent, noting that it assesses how symptoms affect daily life to guide treatment, emphasizing its quick and simple format.
- Provide instructions, asking the respondent to rate each of the three core items (and optional items, if used) based on symptom-related disruption over the past week, using the 0-10 scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-5 minutes, owing to its concise design.
- Administer in a private, quiet setting, using paper or digital formats, to ensure honest responses. Verify licensing compliance, as the SDS is proprietary.
Reliability and Validity
The SDS exhibits strong psychometric properties, as demonstrated in multiple studies. Internal consistency is high, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.89-0.92 across disorders like bipolar disorder and panic disorder. Inter-rater reliability is satisfactory (r = 0.80-0.85) when clinician-rated, and test-retest reliability is robust (r = 0.73-0.87) over short intervals in stable populations.
Convergent validity is supported by moderate to strong correlations with other impairment measures, such as the Global Assessment of Functioning (r = 0.60-0.75) and quality of life scales like the SF-36 (r = 0.50-0.70). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like physical pain in psychiatric samples (r < 0.40). Criterion validity is shown through its ability to differentiate clinical populations (e.g., anxiety disorders, depression) from controls and its sensitivity to treatment effects, such as reduced scores post-duloxetine or CBT. Validation studies span diverse settings, including primary care, non-English populations, and conditions like ADHD and gambling disorders.
Available Versions
Multiple-Items
Reference
Sheehan, D. V. (1983). The anxiety disease. New York. Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule: ADIS-IV Child Interview Schedule, 2.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the SDS measure?
It measures functional impairment in work/school, social, and family life due to symptoms.
Who can use the SDS?
Clinicians, psychologists, and researchers assessing psychiatric or medical conditions.
How long does the SDS take to complete?
It takes about 2-5 minutes.
Is the SDS specific to anxiety disorders?
No, it’s used for various psychiatric and medical conditions.
Is the SDS freely available?
No, it’s proprietary; contact Dr. Sheehan for licensing.
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