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SCOFF Questionnaire

The SCOFF Questionnaire is a five-question screening tool designed to detect the presence of any type of eating disorder. A positive score on the SCOFF (≥ 2) indicates suspicion of an eating disorder, for which further evaluation with an eating disorder specialist is recommended to confirm an accurate diagnosis. The questions may be delivered verbally as part of an overall health evaluation. This tool can be used in the general population to identify people who may be at risk or have an eating disorder. 

S - Do you make yourself Sick (throw up) because you feel uncomfortably full? Y/N
C - Do you worry you have lost Control over how much you eat? Y/N
O - Have you recently lost more than One stone (approximately 14 pounds) in a 3-month period? Y/N
F - Do you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin? Y/N
F - Would you say you have thoughts and fears about Food and weight that dominate your life? Y/N

 

Scoring: Each "yes" response to the five yes/no questions on the SCOFF is summed for the total score. Scores of 2 or greater indicate a likely case of an eating disorder (sensitivity: 100 percent; specificity: 87.5 percent). Consult an eating disorder specialist as necessary.

References

  1. Botella J, Sepulveda A, Huang H, Bambara H. A meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the SCOFF. Span J Psychol. 1013; 16:e92. doi:10.1017/sjp.2013.92
  2. Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH. The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening tool for eating disorders. BMJ. 1999;319(7223):1467.
    doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7223.1467
  3. Perry L, Morgan J, Reid F, et al. Screening for symptoms of eating disorders: reliability of the SCOFF screening tool with written compared to oral delivery. Int J Eat Disord. 2002;32(4):466-472. doi:10.1002/eat.10093
  4. Solmi F, Hatch SL, Hotopf M, Treasure J, Micali N. Validation of the SCOFF questionnaire for eating disorders in a multiethnic general population sample. Int J Eat Disord. 2015;48(3):312-316. doi:10.1002/eat.22373


 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.