Fatigue Severity Scale
FSSA 9-item unidimensional scale measuring the functional impact of fatigue on daily activities, developed in multiple sclerosis and lupus populations.
Ready-to-cite methods sentence
Reliability & validation
Known limitations
Developed in neurological and autoimmune populations, so norms may not transfer to healthy or psychiatric samples; it captures the impact of fatigue rather than its intensity or cause.
Original citation
Krupp, L. B., LaRocca, N. G., Muir-Nash, J., Steinberg, A. D. (1989). The Fatigue Severity Scale: Application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Archives of Neurology, 46(10), 1121-1123.
https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1989.00520460115022Questions researchers ask
What does the FSS measure?
A 9-item unidimensional scale measuring the functional impact of fatigue on daily activities, developed in multiple sclerosis and lupus populations.
How many items does the FSS have?
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) has 9 items.
Is the FSS free to use?
The FSS is free to use for non-commercial academic research. You don't need to pay a license fee, but you should always cite the original publication.
Is the FSS reliable?
Validation studies report Cronbach's α of 0.88. See the reliability section for the population studied and full statistics.
Who developed the FSS, and how do I cite it?
Krupp, L. B., LaRocca, N. G., Muir-Nash, J., Steinberg, A. D. (1989). The Fatigue Severity Scale: Application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Archives of Neurology, 46(10), 1121-1123. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1989.00520460115022
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Library entry verified July 2026. Metadata is provided for reference; item wording is available inside Folio Surveyor, subject to each instrument's licensing.