What is the 2016 fibromyalgia survey?

The 2016 ACR fibromyalgia survey is a revised self-report questionnaire that measures two components: a Widespread Pain Index (WPI, 0–19) based on pain locations in the past week, and a Symptom Severity Scale (SSS, 0–12) covering fatigue, unrefreshed sleep, cognitive problems, headaches, abdominal pain, and depression. It is validated for research and screening, not for clinical diagnosis in an individual.

Tools

2016 ACR Fibromyalgia Survey

Q: What score on the fibromyalgia survey suggests fibromyalgia?

The survey criteria threshold is met when: (1) WPI is 7 or above and SSS is 5 or above, OR WPI is 4–6 and SSS is 9 or above; (2) pain is present in at least 4 of 5 body regions; and (3) symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least 3 months. Meeting the threshold does not diagnose fibromyalgia — it indicates a pattern consistent with the research criteria that should be discussed with a doctor.

Self-report screening questionnaire

This is not a diagnostic tool. The self-report fibromyalgia survey is validated for research and screening, not for diagnosing an individual. A score that crosses the threshold does not mean you have fibromyalgia, and a score below it does not rule it out. Use this to inform a conversation with your doctor, who can assess you properly and consider other causes.

What this survey measures

The 2016 revised ACR fibromyalgia survey questionnaire is a self-report instrument with two components: a Widespread Pain Index (WPI) that counts how many body areas you have had pain in during the past week, and a Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) that rates the severity of fatigue, unrefreshed sleep, and cognitive symptoms, plus the presence of headaches, abdominal pain, and depression.

The combined score (WPI + SSS) gives a Fibromyalgia Severity score (also called the Polysymptomatic Distress score), which ranges from 0 to 31. This is a continuous measure of symptom severity that is meaningful regardless of whether the criteria threshold is crossed.

The survey also checks whether your pain is widespread enough across body regions and whether symptoms have been present for at least 3 months, both of which are required for the criteria threshold to be met.

How to complete it

The survey takes 2–3 minutes.
Answer based on your symptoms in the past week for the pain areas and core symptoms, and in the past 6 months for the three additional symptoms.
Be honest rather than generous: tick a pain area only if you genuinely had pain there, not stiffness or tingling alone.

Widespread Pain Index

Tick each area where you have had pain in the past week. Do not include areas where you had only tingling, numbness, or stiffness without pain.

Areas selected: 0 / 19

Symptom Severity Scale

Core symptoms in the past week

For each symptom, select the level that best describes your experience over the past week.

Fatigue

0 — No problem 1 — Slight or mild problems, generally mild or intermittent 2 — Moderate, considerable problems, often present and/or at a moderate level 3 — Severe: pervasive, continuous, life-disturbing problems

Waking unrefreshed

0 — No problem 1 — Slight or mild problems, generally mild or intermittent 2 — Moderate, considerable problems, often present and/or at a moderate level 3 — Severe: pervasive, continuous, life-disturbing problems

Cognitive symptoms (problems with thinking or memory)

0 — No problem 1 — Slight or mild problems, generally mild or intermittent 2 — Moderate, considerable problems, often present and/or at a moderate level 3 — Severe: pervasive, continuous, life-disturbing problems

Additional symptoms in the past 6 months

Have you had any of the following symptoms in the past 6 months?

Headaches Pain or cramps in lower abdomen Depression

Symptom duration

The criteria require that symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least 3 months.

Have your symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep problems, cognitive difficulties) been present at a similar level for at least 3 months?

Yes — symptoms have been present at a similar level for 3 months or more No — symptoms have been present for less than 3 months, or have changed significantly

Your results

Reference thresholds

Criteria met when WPI ≥7 and SSS ≥5, OR WPI 4–6 and SSS ≥9
Plus generalized pain in at least 4 of 5 body regions
Plus symptoms present at a similar level for at least 3 months
The FS score (WPI + SSS, range 0–31) is a continuous measure of symptom severity and is meaningful regardless of whether the threshold is crossed

This is not a diagnostic tool. The self-report fibromyalgia survey is validated for research and screening, not for diagnosing an individual. A score that crosses the threshold does not mean you have fibromyalgia, and a score below it does not rule it out. Use this to inform a conversation with your doctor, who can assess you properly and consider other causes.