Self-assessment Parkinson’s Disease Disability Scale

Parkinson’s Disease: 

(Biemans et al, 2001; n = 142; mean age = 66(10.4) years; Hoehn & Yahr Stage range = I to V (I = 29, II = 41, III = 39, IV = 24, V = 9) 

 

Table 1 Mean, standard deviation and scalability of items of the SPDDS questionnaire 

Item

Mean

SD

H (g)

Washing face and hands

1.46 

0.83 

0.66 

Brushing teeth

1.51 

0.86 

0.63 

Using a telephone

1.54 

0.90 

0.62 

Making tea or coffee

1.68 

1.17 

0.71 

Inserting and removing an electric plug

1.70 

1.09 

0.63 

Pouring milk from a bottle or carton

1.75 

1.10 

0.65 

Walking about house/flat

1.82 

1.19 

0.66 

Getting up out of armchair

1.87 

0.89 

0.63 

Picking up object from floor

1.87 

1.03 

0.67 

Having a shower

1.87 

1.22 

0.71 

Getting undressed

1.94 

1.07 

0.70 

Holding and reading newspaper

1.98 

1.09 

0.52 

Holding cup and saucer

1.99 

1.13 

0.58 

Getting out of bed

2.03 

0.92 

0.71 

Getting dressed

2.06 

1.05 

0.70 

Walking down the stairs

2.07 

1.31 

0.64 

Doing the dishes

2.10 

1.30 

0.65 

Walking up the stairs

2.10 

1.28 

0.64 

Walking outside, for example to local shops

2.31 

1.52 

0.68 

Cutting food with knife and fork

2.32 

1.16 

0.57 

Opening tins (not using an electric opener)

2.42 

1.03 

0.60 

Turning over in bed

2.51 

1.17 

0.57 

Travelling by public transport

2.83 

1.64 

0.69 

Writing a letter

2.90 

1.47 

0.60 

(Items in table arranged by level of disability, from least to most)

Parkinson’s Disease:

(Biemans et al, 2001) 

• Excellent internal consistency: 
• Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.97. 
• Loevinger’s H = 0.64 
• Reliability rho = 0.97

Parkinson’s Disease : 

(Biemans et al, 2001) 

• Excellent correlation between the SPDDS and the Sickness Impact Scale (SIP68): r = 0.83. 

 

Table 2 The relationship between self-report and observation for selected items of the SPDDS 
 

SPDDS Questionnaire

Observation

N

ICC (3,1)

Getting out of bed

Getting in/out of bed 

28 

0.81 

Getting up from an armchair

Getting up from and sitting down in armchair 

29 

0.61 

Walking up the stairs

Walking up and down the stairs 

23 

0.66 

Walking down the stairs

Walking up and down the stairs 

23 

0.50 

Getting dressed

Putting on and taking off coat 

29 

0.77 

Getting undressed

Putting on and taking off coat 

29 

0.73 

Making cup of tea or coffee

Making cup of tea or coffee 

18 

0.82 

Holding cup and saucer

Holding a cup and saucer 

26 

0.79 

Using a telephone

Using a telephone 

29 

0.52 

Writing a letter

Writing a letter 

29 

0.57 

Turning over in bed

Turning over in bed 

26 

0.56 

 

(The ICC varied from 0.52 to 0.82, showing a moderate to high positive association) 

• Strong relationship between the SPDDS questionnaire and H&Y Stages: (F = 104.85, df =141, p<0.0001) 

H&Y Stage

SPDDS Score (Mean)

SD

I

30.3 

5.8 

II

36.9 

7.4 

III

49.3 

10.3 

IV

72.3 

15.6 

V

95.2 

19.6 

 

Parkinson’s Disease : 

(Brown et al, 1989; Group 1 n = 37; mean age (years) = 65.1(9.6); mean disease duration = 10.9(5.4); duration range (years) = 3 to 26; Hoehn & Yahr Stage II n = 12, Stage III = 20, Stage IV = 3, Stage V = 2; Group 2 n=29; mean age (years) = 50.4(9.3); mean duration (years) = 10.5(4.3); duration range (years) = 3 to 19) 

• Significant correlation between level of self-rated disability and level of depression (as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory): r = 0.34 
• Significant correlation between level of self-rated disability and Mini-Mental State Examination: r = -0.48