Table 3 Sample list of questionnaires that have been used in the assessment of fatigue in clinical trials

Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire [67, 68]

Physical and mental

11 items

2-3 minute administration time

4-point Likert scale

Higher = worse

Recall period for the past month

Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) [69]

Subjective experience, concentration, motivation, and physical activity

20 items

4-5 minute administration time

7-point Likert scale

Higher = worse

Designed for chronic fatigue syndrome, but also used with fibromyalgia and healthy populations

Recall period for past 2 weeks

Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) [70]

Physical, social, and cognitive

9 items

2-3 minute administration time

7-point Likert scale

Higher = worse

Recall period for the past week

Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) Vitality Subscale [55, 56]

Energy and vitality

4 items

1-2 minute administration time

6-point (version 1) or 5-point (version 2) Likert scale

Higher scores = better

Recall period for the past 4 weeks

Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) [64]

Severity, stress, degree of interference with activities of daily living, timing, and global

16 items

5-8 minute administration time

10-point rating scales for 1–14, 15 and 16 have 4 ordinal responses

Higher scores = worse

Designed for rheumatoid arthritis, but also used in fibromyalgia

Recall period for the past week

Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) [54]

Global experience and somatic, cognitive, affective, and behavioral symptoms

20 items

4-5 minute administration time

5-point Likert scale

Higher scores = worse

Recall period is stated as 'lately’

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

Any dimension required, typically severity or intensity

1 item

<1 minute administration time

100 mm horizontal line anchored by two statements

Recall period typically 1 week, varies