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Shortened Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5)
5-item abbreviated version of the MFIS for a quick estimate of daily fatigue impact.
Shortened Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5)
I have felt less alert because of my fatigue
My fatigue has limited my ability to do things away from home
I have been less able to complete tasks that require physical effort
I have had trouble concentrating because of my fatigue
My fatigue has interfered with my work or other daily responsibilities
Result0 / 20
Higher scores indicate greater self-reported impact of fatigue on daily functioning; no single cut-off is universally validated for the 5-item version.
- MFIS-5 total
- 0 / 20
When to use
- Quick estimate of fatigue impact when the full 21-item MFIS is impractical, e.g. in busy clinics or frequent longitudinal monitoring.
Formula
5 items (2 physical, 2 cognitive, 1 psychosocial - selected from the original 21-item MFIS for their high correlation with the total score), each scored 0 (never) to 4 (almost always). Total range 0-20, higher = greater fatigue impact; correlates closely with the full 21-item MFIS total (median approximately 10 in a validation cohort of people with MS).
Pearls and pitfalls
- Intended as a brief substitute for the full MFIS when repeated, time-sensitive assessment is needed, not as a diagnostic threshold.
References
- Meca-Lallana V, Branas-Pampillon M, Higueras Y, et al. Assessing fatigue in multiple sclerosis: psychometric properties of the five-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5). Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2019;5(4):2055217319887987.
- Fisk JD, Ritvo PG, Ross L, et al. Measuring the functional impact of fatigue: initial validation of the Fatigue Impact Scale. Clin Infect Dis. 1994;18(Suppl 1):S79-83.