Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) Test

Get a quick picture of how physical symptoms are affecting your patient in just 2 minutes. Eight focused items deliver clear scores to flag somatization, track progress, and support differential diagnosis.

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Questions: 82 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

23,983 views

1,956 completions

1,644 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

11/32

Somatization Total Score (STS)

Measures the overall severity of somatic symptom burden reported over the past weeks on the SSS-8.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 7: Low | 8 – 15: Moderate | 16 – 32: High

A score of 11 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not severe level of somatic symptom burden.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Frequent unexplained symptoms

44%OF USERS

People bothered by recurring physical complaints like pain, fatigue, or dizziness who want to understand whether stress or emotions may be contributing.

Therapy or medication monitoring

33%OF USERS

Patients already in psychotherapy or taking medication who track how their bodily symptoms change over time and bring clear results to appointments.

Clinician screening and triage

23%OF USERS

Psychologists, psychotherapists, and physicians who use a quick questionnaire to screen for somatization and support differential diagnosis.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Overall Somatization Score (OSS)

Average

14.8

Normal range

10.6 — 19.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the level of distress related to common physical symptoms over a recent period. It provides a brief index of somatic symptom burden.

What time period should be considered when answering?

Answers should reflect the past seven days. Use the typical level of bother during that week.

How should the response options be selected?

Select the option that best matches how much each symptom bothered or troubled the respondent. If uncertain, choose the closest single option.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

It includes 8 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Most respondents can finish without additional instructions.

How are results used in clinical practice?

Scores can support screening for elevated somatic symptom burden and help monitor change over time. Results should be interpreted alongside clinical history and medical evaluation.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) Test - Symptoms and Signs

somatics

This brief self-report measure assesses the severity of common somatic symptoms and related distress. The Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) is designed to support clinical screening and symptom monitoring in medical and behavioral health settings.

It consists of 8 items rated by the respondent and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Items query the degree to which physical symptoms have been bothersome over a recent time frame, yielding a summary score that can be used to quantify symptom burden and track change over time. The measure was developed by Kurt Kroenke.

The Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) is intended to complement, not replace, clinical evaluation; results should be interpreted in the context of medical history, current health conditions, and other assessment data.

Author: janet-b-w-williams, Kurt Kroenke, robert-l-spitzer

Literature: Barsky, A. J., Wyshak, G., & Klerman, G. L. The somatosensory amplification scale and its relationship to hypochondriasis. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 1990.; Gierk, B., Kohlmann, S., Kroenke, K., Spangenberg, L., Zenger, M., Brähler, E., & Löwe, B. The somatic symptom scale-8 (SSS-8): A brief measure of somatic symptom burden. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2014.

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