Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)

Be confident that you are using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) correctly. Purchase directly from the author and Copyright Holder, Dr. David V Sheehan. Look for the QR code linking to HarmResearch.org to make sure you are using the SDS directly from the Copyright Holder. To get training, consultation, Sheehan Disability Scale interpretation or a guide to Sheehan Disability Scale scoring contact us!

For any scientific questions relating to the SDS, contact David V Sheehan MD MBA directly by email at: davidVsheehan@gmail.com

SDS FAQ View Products by Study Type

About the SDS

The SDS Sheehan Disability Scale PDF* or Paper available.

The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) is a short (5-item), easy-to-use 1 page measure of disability and functional impairment. Patients are asked to rate the extent to which their symptoms have disrupted their lives in the last week across 3 separate domains:

Work / Schoolwork
Social life / Leisure activities
Family life / Home responsibilities

SDS
Sheehan Disability Scale

The Sheehan Disability Scale is a short, simple, treatment outcome measure of disability and functional impairment. It can be either patient-rated or clinician-rated but clinician input and judgment are always recommended with making any assessment for it to be valid. Sheehan Disability Scale PDF* or Paper available.

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SDS-A (Adolescent)
Sheehan Disability Scale

The Sheehan Disability Scale Adolescent (SDS-A) is a short, simple, treatment outcome measure of disability and functional impairment. The SDS-A is a patient rated version by the adolescent but clinician input and judgment are always recommended with making any assessment for it to be valid. Sheehan Disability Scale PDF* or Paper available.

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SDS-P (Pediatric)
Sheehan Disability Scale

The Sheehan Disability Scale Pediatric (SDS-P) is a short, simple, treatment outcome measure of disability and functional impairment. It can be parent or clinician rated but clinician input and judgment are always recommended with making any assessment for it to be valid. Sheehan Disability Scale PDF* or Paper available.

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Purchase A Preview

How to LICENSE the sheehan disability scale (sds)

Any use of the SDS requires a license. Get access to knowledge about Sheehan Disability Scale scoring from the author and Sole Copyright Holder of the SDS! Sheehan Disability Scale PDF* or Paper available. Please complete the template license agreement for the specific Sheehan Disability Scale you are requesting by clicking “License Agreement” above. After it is completed in full and signed, please send it to Dr. Sheehan at the email address in the license agreement for review.

COST

The cost of licensing Sheehan Disability Scale is $4 per use. This licensing fee applies to all uses. For customized versions please review the License Agreement template.

TRANSLATIONS

The English language versions of Dr. Sheehan’s scales and structured interviews are distributed directly by Dr. Sheehan and not by MAPI. You are required to get a license from Dr. Sheehan for all the administrations to be done in all languages in your study / clinical setting and to pay the invoice to Dr. Sheehan for this license. If you need a translation beyond the English version, you will need to reach out to MAPI after getting a fully executed license for all the administrations in any language. For more information visit the FAQ page.

Sheehan Disability scale TRAINING

For information about virtual web-based training on the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and Sheehan Disability Scale interpretation please see our FAQ or download our Training Form.

For more information contact: training@harmresearch.org or davidVsheehan@gmail.com.

Training Form

sds FAQ

Who is the owner and copyright holder of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)?

Dr. David V. Sheehan is the copyright and trademark holder of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). This copyright is registered in the U.S. Copyright office. A license is needed for all use of the SDS.

Dr. Sheehan only provides consultation, guidance on regulatory agency questions, and training to those who license the MINI / MINI Kid or scales directly from him. Contact Dr. Sheehan at davidVsheehan@gmail.com for additional information. If you do not see a QR code on the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) you are using linking back to this website then you did not get the SDS from the author and Copyright Holder. Dr. David V. Sheehan is the Copyright Holder, Trademark Holder, and author of the SDS in all languages. This copyright for the SDS has been registered with the US Copyright Office.

SDS Licensing and Costs

Do I need a license to use the SDS?

A fully executed license is required for use of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) in any language. To license the SDS directly from Dr. Sheehan, the author and copyright holder, you will need complete his license agreement. Click here to learn more about the SDS or to download a License for use.

Dr. Sheehan only provides consultation, guidance on regulatory agency questions, and training to those who license the SDS directly from him. Contact Dr. Sheehan at davidVsheehan@gmail.com for additional information. If you do not see a QR code on the SDS you are using linking back to this website then you did not get the SDS from the author and Copyright Holder. Dr. David V. Sheehan is the Copyright Holder, Trademark Holder, and author of the SDS in all languages. This copyright for the SDS has been registered with the US Copyright Office.

What does it cost to license the SDS?

The cost of licensing the SDS is $4 USD for each use, i.e. each administration to a subject and/or each use in training.

Note: Non-profit institutions sometimes incorrectly assume that the license fee does not apply because they are “not-for-profit”. The licensing fee applies to all uses.

I am a student. Can I get a no-charge license?

The license and license fee applies to all uses.

Is the SDS available in PDF format?

Dr. Sheehan licenses the SDS in paper format for distribution as follows: (1) in paper form for any uses, or (2) in fixed-pdf form, paper form, or both for use in clinical or academic research trials or studies.

About the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)

What is the the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)?

work/schoolwork
social life/ leisure activities
family life/ home responsibilities

For each domain, the subject is presented a horizontal graphic line with numeric and verbal descriptors. The subject marks the point on the line that best corresponds to the severity of their impairment for that domain. The SDS includes 2 additional items to identify the number of “days lost” and “days underproductive” due to symptoms in the last week. A benefit of the SDS is that it yields scores for each domain (work/ social/family life) that can be plotted quantitatively on a graph.

What is the SDS used for?

Many patients suffer impairment of functioning at work, at school, in social settings or at home above and beyond their symptoms. Insurance companies, employers, government agencies, clinicians and drug companies seeking regulatory approval want to be assured that treatment not only improves symptoms but also restores functioning. The SDS can be used:

To assess and monitor the severity of functional impairment over time and in response to treatment in primary care as well as mental health settings.
To identify and track disability and functional impairment as an efficacy outcome measure, adverse event and/or treatment emergent effect in clinical trials and treatment outcome studies.
To provide documentation of disability and impairment in detailed forensic evaluations.
To detect and describe the incidence or prevalence and severity of disability and impairment in population research including national and international epidemiology studies and community surveys.

What makes the SDS unique?

The SDS is unique in using a discretized analog (Discan) metric that subjects with different cognitive orientations (verbal, numeric, and visual spatial) can easily follow. Some people rate numerically (”he was 6’3” tall”), others use verbal descriptors (“he was very tall”), and still others communicate by rating space visually (using their hands to point while commenting “he was this tall”). Some choose a combination of two or all three methods. For each of its functional domains (work / social / family life), the SDS allows subjects to simultaneously anchor their perceptions of their own impairment all three ways (verbally, numerically and visually-spatially). It also allows enough points of discrimination so that subjects can make fine distinctions in degrees of impairment. This format makes the SDS uniquely sensitive to efficacy signals in treatment studies. Additionally, the SDS contains two numeric measures for “days lost” and “days underproductive” that can be used to assess the impact of disability on work and productivity.

How long does it take to administer the SDS?

Typically, the SDS takes 1-2 minutes to administer.

What qualifications do I need to administer the SDS?

No minimum qualification is needed to administer the SDS. However, in research settings where precision is required, training in the use of the SDS is recommended. For more information about training, CLICK HERE.

Note:Dr. Sheehan only provides consultation, guidance on regulatory agency questions, and training to those who license the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS directly from him. Contact Dr. Sheehan at davidVsheehan@gmail.com for additional information. If you do not see a QR code on the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) you are using linking back to this website, then you did not get the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) from the author and Copyright Holder. Dr. David V. Sheehan is the Copyright Holder, Trademark Holder and author of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) in all languages. This copyright for the SDS has been registered with the US Copyright Office.

Can I administer the SDS remotely?

Yes. Dr. Sheehan’s license allows you to administer the SDS remotely as long as you complete the interview on paper as a primary source document. It is up to your protocol to determine how appropriate remote administration is for your patient population. For best results, Dr. Sheehan’s recommendation is to conduct the interview using video, such as Zoom or Skype, rather than phone. The SDS can be rated by patient or clinician. Because of this flexibility it is useful for inpatients as well as outpatients and can also be used in community and population studies.

If you are doing research, you should also review other applicable rules to make sure that remote administration is acceptable to any agency, such as the FDA, who may have oversight of your research.

What age range is the SDS suitable for?

The standard version of the SDS for adults meets most needs, most of the time in clinical and research settings. The pediatric version (SDS-P) is useful for children since it can be parent or clinician rated for children over the age of 6-11. We recommend the adolescent version (SDS-A) for adolescents age 12-17 since it can be either self-rated or clinician rated.

Has the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) been validated?

Has the SDS been validated?

Note: The SDS is a clinical decision support tool to measure disability and impairment. The above listed studies validated the SDS under conditions in which it was used with its Discan metric (using graphic, numeric and verbal descriptors) and in which it was rated in paper format as a primary source document. The results cannot be generalized to any other conditions or format. For FDA guidance on CDS: visit the FDA website.

The SDS was originally developed to measure functional impairment and treatment response in clinical psychopharmacology trials. It has been extensively validated in mental health inpatient and outpatient services, in primary care, and in clinical trials.

Among other studies, the validity of the SDS was investigated in primary care (Leon et al., 1997), in populations with specific psychiatric disorders such as panic disorder (Leon et al., 1992), social anxiety disorder (Hambrick et al., 2003), bipolar disorder (Arbuckle et al., 2009), ADHD (Coles et al., 2014), major depressive disorder (Khan et al., 2016), and binge eating disorder (Yee et al., 2021), as well as in unique populations such as pregnant women (Hada et al., 2022). Validation studies have also been conducted using non English language versions in countries including Spain (Luciano et al., 2010), China (Leu et al., 2015), Sweden (Soler et al., 2021), Japan (Hada et al., 2022), Iran (Amin-Esmaeli, 2014), and Singapore (Abdin et al., 2024) to name a few. Overall, the SDS was found to be a reliable and valid measure of disability and functional impairment. Beyond its reliability and validity, the SDS it has been shown to be highly sensitive to placebo drug differences in clinical trials and treatment outcome studies (Sheehan et al. 2008). The SDS has also been linguistically validated in over 70 languages.

Is the SDS valid if it is patient-rated?

The SDS can be rated by patient or clinician. Because of this flexibility it is useful for inpatients as well as outpatients and can also be used in community and population studies. Clinician input and judgment are always recommended with making any assessment.

SDS Versions Available

Which version of the SDS is best for my needs?

The standard version of the SDS for adults meets most needs, most of the time in clinical and research settings. The pediatric version (SDS-P) is useful for children since it can be parent or clinician-rated. We recommend the adolescent version (SDS-A) for adolescents since it can be either self-rated or clinician rated.

Can I get a preview copy of the SDS for my IRB submission?

Yes. Please CLICK HERE for a watermarked preview copy for review only or contact Dr. Sheehan at davidVsheehan@gmail.com.

Can I get a customized version of the SDS?

Yes, Dr. Sheehan can design a customized version of the SDS to meet the needs of a specific study or clinical setting. Contact Dr. Sheehan at davidVsheehan@gmail.com to discuss a customized version.

SDS Translations

Is the SDS available in other languages?

Yes, the SDS is available in over 50 languages. To learn more about existing translations or to get new translations contact davidVsheehan@gmail.com.

How do I get a translation?

Requests to access existing non-English translations or for any new translations should be submitted through MAPI Research Trust’s ePROVIDE COA platform at

https://eprovide.mapi-trust.org/ using the following process:

Go to Submit a request
If you haven't registered yet, you'll be asked to sign up for free
Complete the request form. Please attach a copy of the signed and fully executed license agreement signed by Dr. David V Sheehan.

How to cite the sds

The SDS has been cited over 3,000 times in publications.

Note: The SDS is a clinical decision support tool to measure disability and impairment. The below listed studies validated the SDS under conditions in which it was used with its Discan metric (using graphic, numeric and verbal descriptors) and in which it was rated in paper format as a primary source document. The results cannot be generalized to any other conditions or format. For FDA guidance on CDS or using software in diagnosis: visit the FDA website.

Use the following citations in referencing the SDS:

Sheehan KH; Sheehan DV. Assessing treatment effects in clinical trials with the discan metric of the Sheehan Disability Scale. International Clinical Psychopharmacology 2008;23(2):70-83. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e3282f2b4d6
Sheehan DV, Harnett-Sheehan K, Raj BA (1996). The measurement of disability. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 11 (Suppl 3):89–95. PDF: http://journals.lww.com/intclinpsychopharm/Abstract/1996/06003/The_measurement_of_disability.15.aspx
Leon AC, Shear MK, Portera L, et al: Assessing impairment in patients with panic disorder: the Sheehan Disability Scale. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 27:78–82, 1992. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00788510
Leon AC, Olfson M, Portera L, et al: Assessing impairment in primary care: a psychometric analysis of the Sheehan Disability Scale. Int J Psychiatry Med 27:93–105, 1997. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/T8EM-C8YH-373N-1UWD
Olfson M, Kathol RG, Weissman MM, Sheehan DV, Leon AC, Hoven C. Mental Disorders and Disability in a Primary Care Group Practice. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1997; 154: 1734-1740. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/ajp.154.12.1734
Sheehan DV, Harnett-Sheehan K. Psychometric Assessment of Anxiety Disorders. Chapter 8 in Anxiety: Psychobiological and Clinical Perspectives (Sartorius N, Andreoli V, Cassano G, Eisenberg L, Kielholz P, Pancheri P, & Racagni G, eds. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington, DC. 1990; 85-100. ISBN: 1560320648, 9781560320647
Sheehan, D. V. (2000). Sheehan disability scale. Handbook of psychiatric measures, 113-115. ISBN: 0890424152, 9780890424155.
Sheehan DV, Meyers AL, Prakash A, Robinson MJ, Swindle RW, Russell JM, et al. The relationship between functional outcomes and the treatment of anxious and painful somatic symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2008; 24(9):2457-66. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1185/03007990802293643
Sheehan, DV, Harnett-Sheehan, K, Spann, M, Thompson, H, Prakash, A. Assessing remission in major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder clinical trials with the discan metric of the Sheehan disability scale. International clinical psychopharmacology. 2011;2: 75-83. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e328341bb5f
Sheehan DV, Chokka PR, Granger RE, Walton RJ, Raskin J, Sagman D. Clinical and functional outcomes in patients with major depressive disorder and painful physical symptoms switched to treatment with duloxetine. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. 2011;26(3):242-51. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hup.1199
Mancini, M, Sheehan DV, Demyttenaere, K, Amore, M, Deberdt, W, Quail, D, Sagman, D. Evaluation of the effect of duloxetine treatment on functioning as measured by the Sheehan disability scale: pooled analysis of data from six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2012; 27(6): 298-309. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e3283589a3f
Sheehan DV, Locklear J, Svedsäter H, Datto C. Long-term functioning and sleep quality in patients with major depressive disorder treated with extended-release quetiapine fumarate. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2012;27(5):239-48. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e328356ac78
Sheehan, DV, Svedsäter, H, Locklear, JC, Eriksson. Effects of extended-release quetiapine fumarate on long-term functioning and sleep quality in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Data from a randomized-withdrawal, placebo-controlled maintenance study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2013; 151(3): 906-913. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.07.037

*Looking for the Sheehan Disability Scale PDF: Dr. Sheehan licenses the instrument in paper format for distribution as follows: (1) in paper form for any uses, or (2) in fixed-pdf form, paper form, or both for use in clinical or academic research trials or studies.