Brief Description
The Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating (FIBSER) scale is a brief self-report tool used to assess the side effects of psychiatric medications for depression. The FIBSER scale does not measure the impact of specific side effects. Rather, it measures three dimensions: the frequency of side effects, the intensity of these side effects, and the burden they impose on daily functioning. Each dimension is rated on a Likert scale, ranging from 0 to 6, where higher scores indicate greater severity and difficulty caused by side effects. The FIBSER is commonly used in clinical settings to monitor the impact of medication on patients and to guide medication treatment plans.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
3
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Weekly
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
The FIBSER scale assesses three distinct aspects of medication side effects: frequency, intensity, and burden on daily life. Respondents rate each aspect on a scale from 0 to 6:
Frequency: How often side effects occur. The response for this item is used solely to provide information to the clinician for monitoring purposes.
Intensity: How severe the side effects are. The response for this item is used solely to provide information to the clinician for monitoring purposes.
Burden: How much the side effects interfere with daily activities. The score for this item is interpreted as below:
Score | Meaning | Potential Indications for Treatment |
0-2 | No to mild interference with activities. | No change in medication is needed |
3-4 | Moderate to marked interference with activities. | Side effects should be addressed in treatment plan. May include adjusting dosage or prescribing side effect antidote. |
5-6 | Severe interference with activities or unable to function. | Dose may need to be decreased or medication may need to be changed. |
Blueprint Adjustments
Blueprint provides the revised version of the assessment, which has been adapted with permission from the author. The Total Score and interpretation shown in Blueprint is based on the Burden score (Question 3).
Clinical Considerations
Estimated time for completion: 1-2 minutes
While there was no readily available research for use with younger populations, this assessment likely can be used with adolescents if clinically appropriate.
Citation
Relevant Articles + Further Resources
We're here for you!
Do you have follow-up questions? We're here and happy to help!
Send us an email at help@blueprint-health.com or use the help messenger in the lower right corner to speak with our Support team. 💪🏼