Widespread Pain Index (WPI)

In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology approved a new set of measures — including the Widespread Pain Index (WPI) — to assist in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The WPI is a self-report measure that quantifies the extent of widespread pain throughout the body.

The Widespread Pain Index is a 19-point checklist that assesses the presence of pain or tenderness (within the prior seven days) in 19 specific areas of the body; each affected area receives one point. The 19 regions on the WPI include the following:

• Right and left jaw
• Right and left shoulder girdle
• Right and left upper arm
• Right and left lower arm
• Right and left hip/buttock
• Right and left upper leg
• Right and left lower leg
• Upper and lower back
• Neck
• Chest
• Abdomen

The Widespread Pain Index is used in conjunction with the Symptom Severity Scale as a diagnostic measure for fibromyalgia. A fibromyalgia diagnosis is confirmed if a WPI is ≥7 with an SS scale ≥5 OR a WPI range between 4‒6 with an SS scale ≥ 9.

For more detailed information, please see the article “The American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Measurement of Symptom Severity” on rheumatology.org.