Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
This questionnaire was originally created and used by Dr. James L. Wilson in his practice and later published
on page 61 in his book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21
st
Century Stress Syndrome. The author’s permission has been
given to healthcare professionals to use this questionnaire in their practices. It is designed as an aid to
determining a patient’s level of adrenal fatigue. Although Dr. Wilson and many other physicians have found
the questionnaire extremely helpful, no formal reliability or validity tests have been completed to confirm its
accuracy, and the author assumes no responsibility for its use or accuracy. No commercial use of this
questionnaire is permitted without prior written consent by the author.
Instructions: Please enter the appropriate response number to each statement below.
0 = Never/Rarely
1 = Occasionally/Slightly
2 = Moderate in Intensity or Frequency
3 = Intense/Severe or Frequent
I have not felt well since ____________ when _______________________________________
(date) (describe event, if any)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ .
Predisposing Factors
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I have experienced long periods of stress that have affected my well being.
2 ______ ______ I have had one or more severely stressful events that have affected my well
being.
3 ______ ______ I have driven myself to exhaustion.
4 ______ ______ I overwork with little play or relaxation for extended periods.
5 ______ ______ I have had extended, severe or recurring respiratory infections.
6 ______ ______ I have taken long term or intense steroid therapy (corticosteroids).
7 ______ ______ I tend to gain weight, especially around the middle (spare tire).
8 ______ ______ I have a history of alcoholism &/or drug abuse.
9 ______ ______ I have environmental sensitivities.
10 ______ ______ I have diabetes (type 2, adult onset, NIDDM)
11 ______ ______ I suffer from post traumatic distress syndrome.
12 ______ ______ I suffer from anorexia.*
13 ______ ______ I have one or more other chronic illnesses of diseases.
______ ______ Total
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
Key Signs & Symptoms
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ My ability to handle stress and pressure has decreased.
2 ______ ______ I am less productive at work.
3 ______ ______ I seem to have decreased in cognitive ability. I don’t think as clearly as I
used to.
4 ______ ______ My thinking is confused when hurried or under pressure.
5 ______ ______ I tend to avoid emotional situations.
6 ______ ______ I tend to shake or am nervous when under pressure.
7 ______ ______ I suffer from nervous stomach indigestion when tense.
8 ______ ______ I have many unexplained fears/anxieties.
9 ______ ______ My sex drive is noticeably less than it used to be.
10 ______ ______ I get lightheaded or dizzy when rising rapidly from a sitting or lying
position.
11 ______ ______ I have feelings of graying or blacking out.
12 ______ ______ I am chronically fatigued; a tiredness that is not usually relieved by sleep.*
13 ______ ______ I feel unwell much of the time.
14 ______ ______ I notice that my ankles are sometimes swollen- the swelling is worse in the
evening.
15 ______ ______ I usually need to lie down or rest after sessions of psychological or
emotional pressure/stress.
16 ______ ______ My muscles sometimes feel weaker than they should.
17 ______ ______ My hands and legs get restless- experience meaningless body movements.
18 ______ ______ I have become allergic or have increased frequency/ severity of allergic
reactions.
19 ______ ______ When I scratch my skin, a white line remains for a minute or more.
20 ______ ______ Small irregular dark brown spots have appeared on my forehead, face,
neck, and shoulders.
21 ______ ______ I sometimes feel weak all over.*
22 ______ ______ I have unexplained and frequent headaches.
23 ______ ______ I am frequently cold.
24 ______ ______ I have decreased tolerance for cold.*
25 ______ ______ I have low blood pressure.*
26 ______ ______ I often become hungry, confused, shaky, or somewhat paralyzed under
stress.
27 ______ ______ I have lost weight without reason while feeling very tired and listless.
28 ______ ______ I have feelings of hopelessness or despair.
29 ______ ______ I have decreased tolerance. People irritate me more.
30 ______ ______ The lymph nodes in my neck are frequently swollen (swollen glands).
31 ______ ______ I have times of nausea and vomiting for no apparent reason.*
______ ______ Total
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
Energy Patterns
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I often have to force myself in order to keep going. Everything seems like a
chore.
2 ______ ______ I am easily fatigued.
3 ______ ______ I have difficulty getting up in the morning (don’t really wake up until about
10am).
4 ______ ______ I suddenly run out of energy.
5 ______ ______ I usually feel much better and fully awake after the noon meal.
6 ______ ______ I often have an afternoon low between 3pm-5pm.
7 ______ ______ I get low energy, moody or foggy it I do not eat regularly.
8 ______ ______ I usually feel my best after 6pm.
9 ______ ______ I am often tired at 9pm-10pm, but resist going to bed.
10 ______ ______ I like to sleep late in the morning.
11 ______ ______ My best, most refreshing sleep often comes between 7am-9am.
12 ______ ______ I often do my best work late at night (early in the morning).
13 ______ ______ If I don’t go to bed by 11pm, I get a second burst of energy around 11pm,
often lasting until 1-2am.
______ ______ Total
Frequently Observed Events
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I get coughs/colds that stay around for several weeks.
2 ______ ______ I have frequent or recurring bronchitis, pneumonia or other respiratory
infections.
3 ______ ______ I get asthma, colds, and other respiratory involvements two or more times
per year.
4 ______ ______ I frequently get rashes, dermatitis, or other skin conditions.
5 ______ ______ I have rheumatoid arthritis.
6 ______ ______ I have allergies to several things in the environment.
7 ______ ______ I have multiple chemical sensitivities.
8 ______ ______ I have chronic fatigue syndrome.
9 ______ ______ I get pain in the muscles on the sides of my neck.
10 ______ ______ I have insomnia or difficulty sleeping.
11 ______ ______ I have fibromyalgia.
12 ______ ______ I suffer from asthma.
13 ______ ______ I suffer from hay fever.
14 ______ ______ I suffer from nervous breakdowns.
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
15 ______ ______ I get pain in the muscles of my upper back and lower neck for no apparent
reason.
16 ______ ______ My allergies are becoming worse (more sever, frequent, or diverse).
17 ______ ______ The fat pads on the palms of my hands and/or tips of my fingers are often
red.
18 ______ ______ I bruise more easily than I used to.
19 ______ ______ I have a tenderness in my back near my spine at the bottom of my rib cage
when pressed.
20 ______ ______ I have swelling under my eyes upon rising that goes away after I have
been up for a couple of hours.
The next two questions are for women only:
21 ______ ______ I have increasing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as
cramps, bloating, moodiness, irritability, emotional instability, headaches,
tiredness, and/or intolerance before my period (only some of these need be
present).
22 ______ ______ My periods are generally heavy but they often stop, or almost stop, on the
fourth day, only to start up profusely on the 5
th
or 6
th
day.
Food Patterns
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I need coffee or some other stimulant to get going in the morning.
2 ______ ______ I often crave food high in fat and feel better with high fat foods.
3 ______ ______ I use high fat foods to drive myself.
4 ______ ______ I often use high fat foods and caffeine containing drink (coffee, colas,
chocolate) to drive myself.
5 ______ ______ I often crave salt and/or foods high in salt. I like salty foods.
6 ______ ______ I feel worse if I eat high potassium foods (like bananas, figs, raw potatoes),
especially if I eat them in the morning.
7 ______ ______ I crave high protein foods (meats, cheeses).
8 ______ ______ I crave sweet foods (pies, cakes, pastries, doughnuts, dried fruits, candies,
or desserts).
9 ______ ______ I feel worse if I miss or skip a meal.
______ ______ Total
Aggravating Factors
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I have constant stress in my life or work.
2 ______ ______ My dietary habits tend to be sporadic and unplanned.
3 ______ ______ I do not exercise regularly.
4 ______ ______ My relationships at work and/or home are unhappy.
5 ______ ______ My life contains insufficient enjoyable activities.
6 ______ ______ I have little control over how I spend my time.
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
7 ______ ______ I restrict my salt intake.
8 ______ ______ I have gum and/or tooth infections or abscesses.
9 ______ ______ I have meals at irregular times
10 ______ ______ I eat lots of fruit
______ ______Total
Relieving Factors
PAST NOW
1 ______ ______ I feel better almost right away once a stressful situation is resolved.
2 ______ ______ Regular meals decrease the severity of my symptoms.
3 ______ ______ I often feel better after spending a night out with friends.
4 ______ ______ I often feel better if I lie down.
5 ______ ______ Other relieving factors _____________________________________
________________________________________________________
______ ______Total
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
Scoring and Interpretation of the Questionnaire
A lot of information can be obtained from this questionnaire. Follow the instructions below
carefully to score your questionnaire correctly. Then proceed to the interpretation section.
Total Number of Questions Answered
1. First count the total number of questions in each section that you answered with any number
other than zero. Enter the “Past” and “Now” totals separately, entering each in appropriate boxes
for each section of the “ Total number of questions answered” scoring chart below. For example,
if you answered a total of 21 questions in the “past” column and 27 questions in the “now”
column of the “Key Signs and Symptoms” with a 1, 2 or 3, your total number of questions
answered score for the “past” column would be “21” and for the “now” column would be “27.”
Note that there are no entries for the first section of the questionnaire entitled “Predisposing
Factors.” This section is dealt with separately and is not included in the summary below.
Therefore, your first entry into the summary boxes will be for the “Key Signs and Symptoms”
section.
2. After you have finished entering the number of questions answered in both columns for each
section, sum all the numbers for each column and the total in the “Grand Total – Total Number
of Questions Answered” boxes on the bottom row of the scoring chart.
3. All the boxes in the “Total Number of Questions Answered” chart should now be filled.
Then go on to the next part of the scoring.
Total Number of Questions Answered with Above 0
Name of Section
Total Answered
Past
Now
Key Signs & Symptoms
Number of questions =31
Energy Patterns
Number of questions =13
Frequently Observed Events
Number of questions =
20 for men, 22 for women
Food Patterns
Number of questions =9
Aggravating Factors
Number of questions =10
Relieving Factors
Number of questions =4
Grand Total – Total Number
of Questions Answered with Above 0
Total Points:
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
This part of the scoring adds up the actual numbers (0, 1, 2, or 3) you put beside the questions
when you were answering the questionnaire. Add these numbers for each column in each section
and enter them into the appropriate boxes in the chart below. Then, sum each column to get the
Total-Points – Now scores. Enter these totals in the bottom 2 boxes to complete this part of the
scoring.
Total Points
Name of Section
Total Points
Past
Now
Key Signs & Symptoms
Total Points possible = 93
Energy Patterns
Total Points possible = 39
Frequently Observed Events
Total Points possible =
60 for men, 66 for women
Food Patterns
Total Points possible =27
Aggravating Factors
Total Points possible = 30
Relieving Factors
Total Points possible = 12
Total Points = SEVERITY
Grand Total – Total Number
of Questions Answered with Above 0
SEVERITY INDEX = Total Points
Divided by Total Questions
Answered Above 0
Asterisk Total –
Total Points Questions Marked with *
Interpreting the Questionnaire
The questionnaire is a valuable tool for determining IF you have adrenal fatigue and, if you do,
the SEVERITY of your syndrome. Of course, the accuracy of its interpretation depends upon
you completing every section as accurately and honestly as possible. Because there is such
diversity in how individuals experience adrenal fatigue, a wide variety of signs and symptoms
have been included. Some people have only the minimal number of symptoms, but the
symptoms they do have are severe. Others experience a great number of symptoms, but most of
their symptoms are relatively mild. This is why there are two kinds of scores to indicate adrenal
fatigue.
Total Number of Questions Answered with a Number Above 0: This gives you a general
“Yes or No” answer to the question, “Do I have adrenal fatigue?” First look at your “Grand Total
– Total Number of Questions Answered Above 0” scores in the first scoring chart. The purpose
of this score is to see the total number of signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue you have. There
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
are a total of 87 questions for men and 89 questions for women in the questionnaire. If you
responded with a number above “0” to more than 26 (men) or 32 (women) of the questions,
(regardless of which severity response number you gave the question), you have some degree of
adrenal fatigue. The greater the number of questions that you have responded affirmatively to,
the greater your adrenal fatigue. If you responded affirmatively to less than 20 of the questions,
it is unlikely adrenal fatigue is your problem. People who do not have adrenal fatigue may still
experience a few of these indicators in their lives, but not many of them. If your symptoms do
not include fatigue or decreased ability to handle stress, then you are probably not suffering from
adrenal fatigue.
Total Points: The total points are used to determine the degree of severity of your adrenal
fatigue. If you ranked every question as 3 (the worst) your total points would be 261 for men
and 267 for women. If you scored under 40, you either have only slight adrenal fatigue or none
at all. If you scored between 44-87 for men or 45-88 for women, then overall you have a mild
degree of adrenal fatigue. This does not mean that some individual symptoms are not severe, but
overall your symptom picture reflects mildly fatigued adrenals. If you scored between 88-130
for men or 89-132 for women, your adrenal fatigue is moderate. If you scored above 130 for
men or 132 for women, then consider yourself to be suffering from severe adrenal fatigue. Now
compare the total points of the different sections with each other. This allows you to see if 1 or 2
sections stand out as having more signs and symptoms than the others. If you have a
predominating group of symptoms, they will be the most useful ones for you to watch as
indicators as you improve. Seeing which sections stand out will also be helpful in developing
your own recovery program.
Severity Index: The Severity Index is calculated by simply dividing the total points by the total
number of questions you answered in the affirmative. It gives an indication of how severely you
up being severe. This number is especially useful for those who suffer from only a few of these
signs and symptoms, but yet are considerably debilitated by them.
Past vs. Now: Now compare the Total Points in the “Past” column to the Total Points in the
“Now” column. The difference indicates the direction your adrenal health is taking. If the
number in the “Past” column is greater than the number in the “Now” column, then you are
slowly recovering from hypoadrenia. It is a good sign you are recovering, but you will still want
to read the following chapters to accelerate your improvement. If the number in the “Now”
column is greater than the number in the “Past” column, your adrenal glands are on a downhill
course and you need to take immediate action to prevent further decline and to recover. Now
complete the section below before you finish reading the rest of the book.
Asterisk Total:
Finally, add the actual numbers you put beside the questions marked by asterisks (*) for the
“Now” column. If this total is more than 9, you are likely suffering from a relatively severe form
of adrenal fatigue. If this total is more than 12, and you answer yes to more than 2 of the
questions below, you have many of the indications of true Addison’s disease and should consult
a physician in addition to doing the things in this book. Be sure to read the section below,
Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire
©
Dr. James L. Wilson*
*International © March 1981, March 1985, March 2001, April 2008, April 2011, July 25, 2014, March 30,
2016 by Dr. James L. Wilson. All rights reserved. Copies of this questionnaire may be reproduced by
healthcare professionals only for use with individual patients, but no commercial use or application
of any
part of this questionnaire is allowed without prior written consent by the author.
“Approaching Your Doctor,” as well as other appropriate sections in this book before consulting
a physician.
Answer the following questions only if you scored more than 12 on the questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
Additional Symptoms (ones that are present now)
The areas on my body listed below have become bluish-black in color.
_____ Inside of lips, mouth
_____ Vagina
_____ Around nipples
_____ I have frequent unexplained diarrhea.
_____ I have increased darkening around the bony areas, at folds in my skin, scars, and the
creases in my joints.
_____ I have light colored patches on my skin where the skin has lost its usual color.
_____ I easily become dehydrated.
_____ I have fainting spells.
Interpretation of the “Predisposing Factors” Section: This section helps determine which
factors led to the development of your adrenal fatigue. There may have been only one factor or
there may have been several, but the number does not matter. One severely stressful incident can
be all it takes for someone to develop adrenal fatigue, although typically it is more. This list is
not exhaustive, but the items listed in this section are the most common factors that lead to
adrenal fatigue. Use this section to better understand how your adrenal fatigue developed.
Seeing how it started often makes clearer what actions you can take to successfully recover from
it. This section also leads into a following section that explores in more depth how your adrenal
fatigue developed.
Approaching Your Doctor
Now that you have decided that you have some form of adrenal fatigue, it is only natural for you
to want to run and tell your doctor. Or you may want to have your doctor do further tests. If you
skipped over the last chapter, a word of caution before you share your newfound revelations with
him or her. First, your doctor may not believe that adrenal fatigue exists. Second, if he vaguely
recognized the term, he may want to run the test for Addison’s disease. Since only 4 in 100,000
have Addison’s disease, chances are you will pass the test and he will conclude that there is
nothing wrong with you. He may give you some tranquilizers, send you to a psychiatrist, tell
you to quit reading self-help books, or offer other unhelpful advice. Even many alternative
physicians are not yet aware of the problems of adrenal fatigue. Believe it or not, the fact that
adrenal fatigue is so common and so pervasive makes it more difficult to recognize. But
regardless of what your doctor says, adrenal fatigue is real and the questionnaire by Dr. Wilson is
a valuable tool in identifying its presence and severity. Although his book on Adrenal Fatigue
was written for people who have no medical background, it is based on a solid foundation of
more than 2,400 scientific and clinical references relating to adrenal fatigue. However, the truly
important questions are not how many studies relate to adrenal fatigue or whether or not your
doctor recognizes it. The important questions are do you suffer from adrenal fatigue and if so,
what can you do about it.
