SCOFF Questionnaire: Screening for Eating Disorders

The SCOFF Questionnaire is a five-question screening tool used to detect eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. It helps doctors quickly identify patients who may need further support.

SCOFF Questionnaire PDF assessment form for eating disorder screening
SCOFF

SCOFF Questionnaire

The SCOFF Questionnaire is a reliable five-question screening tool for detecting eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. It assesses key indicators, including feelings of sickness and loss of control over food. This quick assessment helps healthcare providers identify at-risk patients in primary care settings.

Category

Mental health
Diagnostic

Disease

Mental Health
Assessment
Clinical Care

Source

(Morgan et al., 1999)

Author Name

Morgan, J.F., Reid, F. & Lacey, J.H. (1999)

What is SCOFF Questionnaire

The SCOFF Questionnaire is a simple five-item screening tool built to detect eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia in primary care. It relies on an easy acronym covering core symptoms. Questions ask if you make yourself sick, worry about lost control, or believe you are fat despite others saying you are thin. Participants answer with a simple yes or no to each item. This straightforward format makes it quick to complete. If someone answers yes to two or more questions, it suggests they might have an eating issue and need a full assessment from a specialist. Doctors and nurses frequently use this tool in general practice because it is fast and requires no special training. It helps catch problems early without overwhelming the patient. Although it doesn't provide a final diagnosis, it effectively guides clinicians to the right follow-up care options.

SCOFF Scoring

The SCOFF Questionnaire can be scored using one main approach: a simple cumulative tally. You give one point for every "yes" answer across the five screening questions covering Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, and Food. "No" answers get zero points. Once you have added them up, the total ranges from 0 to 5. It is generally agreed that a score of 2 or higher indicates a likely case of anorexia or bulimia nervosa. This quick threshold helps GPs and clinicians decide if a patient needs a more detailed referral for specialist eating disorder assessment.

View scoring form

Advantages

Efficient collection

Streamlines research data gathering process.

User-friendly

Simple to understand and complete for patients.

Diagnostic accuracy

Enables precise identification of patient health status.

3
Minutes
5
Questions

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