5-D Itch Scale
The 5-D Itch Scale measures multidimensional itch burden and impact for clinician review. This page is catalogue information. It does not order blood tests.
Overview
What is the 5-D Itch?
The 5-D Itch Scale covers itch duration, degree, direction, disability, and distribution. It is not a laboratory algorithm and not interchangeable with Itch NRS.
Development and clinical use
Elman, Hynan, Gabriel and Mayo published the 5-D Itch Scale in 2010. Duration, degree and direction are single ratings, disability is the highest of four activity ratings, and distribution counts affected body sites.
- Catalogue status
- Educational entry
- Production scoring
- Not independently verified
- Mode
- self-report
- Typical use
- Clinician-reviewed intake
- Clinical role
- Multidimensional itch burden measurement for clinician review
Administration
A focused client experience
5-D Itch is completed as a focused self-report and stored for clinician review. This public page does not collect answers or return a score.
- One question at a time with visible progress
- Large keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and answer-review steps
- Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
The illustration shows layout only. It does not reproduce 5-D Itch item wording.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
The five domain scores are summed. The total runs from 5 (no pruritus) to 25 (most severe). Elman publishes no severity bands for that total, so none are applied. Each distribution site is answered Yes or No.
References
- 5-D Itch Scale paperElman S, Hynan LS, Gabriel V, Mayo MJ. The 5-D itch scale: a new measure of pruritus. Br J Dermatol. 2010;162(3):587-593.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the 5-D Itch
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
Does 5-D Itch diagnose a skin or liver disease?
No. It measures itch burden. Diagnosis remains a clinician task.
Does it order blood tests?
No. Symptom measures do not determine laboratory work.
Can I complete it here?
No. This page is educational catalogue information.
Is this the same as the Peak Pruritus NRS?
No. The Peak Pruritus NRS is a single intensity rating. 5-D Itch is multidimensional.
Keep questionnaires distinct from laboratory work.
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