Quality-of-life scales for neurologic diseases

Neurologic diseases can have profound impact on all areas of a patient's life, including cognitive, physical, sensory, emotional, and social functioning. Because few of these diseases are curable, treatment tends to focus on limiting disease progression and relieving symptoms. Therefore, health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) outcomes that assess functional ability and well-being are important for evaluating research and clinical practices. HRQL information is best obtained by asking patients directly, using validated questions with standardized response options. HRQL measurement tools are readily available and can easily be incorporated into practice without adding burden to the clinician. In this article, the authors review the value of collecting HRQL information, the types of HRQL measures that can be used for neurologic diseases, considerations to use when selecting a measure, and recent initiatives that can make HRQL assessment in neurology practical and clinically useful. New HRQL measurement tools, guidance documents, and potential uses of HRQL measures are presented.