WHODAS 2.0: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule
36-item World Health Organization measure of health and disability across six life domains: Cognition, Mobility, Self-care, Getting Along, Life Activities, and Participation. DSM-5-TR endorsed.
WHODAS 2.0 is the World Health Organization
What is WHODAS 2.0?
WHODAS 2.0 (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0) is a generic assessment tool developed by the World Health Organization to measure health and disability across populations and settings. It is grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and provides a standardized method for measuring the impact of health conditions on day-to-day functioning.
Unlike condition-specific scales, WHODAS 2.0 is condition-agnostic, it measures functional limitation regardless of the underlying cause. This makes it valuable for cross-diagnostic comparisons, population health research, and tracking rehabilitation outcomes. The DSM-5-TR includes WHODAS 2.0 in Section III as the recommended measure of disability, replacing the former Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale.
The 36-item version covers six domains with 6 items each. A validated 12-item brief version is available for settings where time is limited. Both versions are available in self-administered, interviewer-administered, and proxy formats. WHODAS 2.0 has been translated into 47 languages and validated in 19 countries.
The Six Life Domains
Each domain contains 6 items (36-item version) rated on a 5-point scale: None (1), Mild (2), Moderate (3), Severe (4), Extreme/Cannot do (5).
Scoring Methods
WHODAS 2.0 offers two scoring approaches depending on the precision required.
Sum all item scores, then convert to a 0–100 scale. Item scores range from 1–5; sum is divided by the maximum possible score and multiplied by 100. Fast and appropriate for most clinical and research contexts.
Item Response Theory (IRT) conversion using published lookup tables. More precise, accounts for the fact that items differ in difficulty and discriminability. Recommended for cross-study comparisons and population research. Requires the World Health Organization conversion tables.
Available Versions
WHODAS 2.0 is available in four versions to suit different clinical and research contexts.
Administer WHODAS 2.0 in HiBoop
ICF-aligned disability tracking with automated domain scoring and longitudinal outcome monitoring for your clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WHODAS 2.0 self-report or clinician-administered?
WHODAS 2.0 is available in three administration formats: self-administered (the patient completes it independently), interviewer-administered (a clinician or researcher reads items aloud), and proxy-administered (a caregiver or family member responds on the patient's behalf). All three formats produce comparable scores, making the choice of format flexible based on setting and patient capacity.
How is WHODAS 2.0 scored?
Two approaches exist. The simple sum method adds item scores (each rated 1–5) and converts the total to a 0–100 scale, where 0 represents no disability and 100 represents full disability. The Item Response Theory (IRT) method applies published WHO conversion tables for greater precision, accounting for differences in item difficulty; this approach is recommended for cross-study comparisons and population-level research.
Can WHODAS 2.0 diagnose a condition?
No. WHODAS 2.0 measures functional limitation and disability across six life domains, regardless of the underlying diagnosis. It is condition-agnostic and not designed to identify or diagnose any specific health condition. Clinicians use it to quantify the impact a health condition has on daily functioning rather than to determine what that condition is.
What is the difference between the 12-item and 36-item versions of WHODAS 2.0?
The 36-item version assesses all six domains in detail (6 items each) and is appropriate when a thorough functional profile is needed. The 12-item brief version is a validated short form designed for settings where time is limited; it provides a reliable global disability score but offers less domain-level granularity. Both versions are freely available from the WHO.
References
- 1.Üstün TB, Chatterji S, Kostanjsek N, Rehm J, Kennedy C, Epping-Jordan J, Saxena S, von Korff M, Pull C. Developing the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Bull World Health Organ. 2010;88(11):815-823.View source
- 2.Federici S, Bracalenti M, Meloni F, Luciano JV. World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0: An international systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2017;39(23):2347-2380.View source
- 3.Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Sagayadevan V, Shahwan S, Picco L, Chong SA. Validation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 among older adults in an Asian country. Singapore Med J. 2020;61(5):246-253.View source
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The WHODAS 2.0: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule qualifies for reimbursement under these CPT codes (US).
Last reviewed: Jun 3, 2026
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