Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

The 4-item version is appropriate for use in situations requiring a very brief measure of stress perceptions. It was previously employed when collecting perceived stress levels over the phone during follow-up interviews. It is not a diagnostic instrument, but intended to make comparisons of subjects’ perceived stress related to current, objective events. The higher the degree and longer the duration of self-perceived stress, indicated by a higher score, is considered a risk factor for a clinical psychiatric disorder.