Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS)

Guy's Neurological Disability Scale asks about every kind of problem multiple sclerosis can cause, not just walking. That was the point of building it: existing MS measures leaned heavily on mobility, so a person whose life had been reshaped by fatigue, bladder problems, or cognitive change could look barely affected.

Twelve categories are covered: cognition, mood, vision, speech, swallowing, upper limb function, lower limb function, bladder, bowel, sexual function, fatigue, and an "others" category for pain, spasms, and vertigo. Each is explored through four to eight yes-or-no questions, then graded 0 (normal function) to 5 (total loss of function) based on how much help the person needs. The twelve grades sum to a total from 0 to 60.

• Original Publication, Sharrack & Hughes (1999)

Licensing Notes: Distributed through ePROVIDE/Mapi Trust, which manages permissions and translations. Confirm terms through ePROVIDE before reproducing the form or building it into an EHR.

Learn More: The GNDS was validated for administration by non-neurologists, over the phone, and as a postal questionnaire. Two limitations: it is an inadequate screen of cognitive function despite having a cognition category, and it requires the person to communicate effectively, so severe communication or memory impairment causes real difficulty.