Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS): A Full Guide for Researchers and Clinicians
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The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a 14-item self-report measure of anhedonia. Learn its scoring methods, cut-off, versions and languages.
Introduction
The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a 14-item self-report scale that measures the ability to experience pleasure (hedonic tone) and its absence (anhedonia). R. P. Snaith, M. Hamilton and colleagues published it in 1995 in The British Journal of Psychiatry, and it has received 2,203 citations.
The SHAPS asks about everyday pleasures in four areas: interest and pastimes, social interaction, sensory experience, and food and drink. This guide explains its items, both scoring methods, its cut-off and its many translations.
Key Features of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)
Purpose and Use
The SHAPS measures the ability to experience or anticipate pleasure. It was developed for use in general and psychiatric populations.
Target Population
The SHAPS is used with adolescents and adults. The original study reported no age-specific norms: its general-population sample was aged 20 to 80, and its psychiatric sample was aged 17 to 81.
Structure
The SHAPS has 14 items covering four domains of hedonic experience:
Interest and pastimes: for example television or radio, hobbies and readingSocial interaction: for example family or friends, smiling faces, helping others and receiving praiseSensory experience: for example bathing, smells, appearance and landscapesFood and drink: for example meals and beveragesItems also cover small positive events. Each item uses a 4-point agreement scale (definitely agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree).
Scoring Method
Original scoring (Snaith et al., 1995):
Each item is recoded as dichotomous: "definitely agree" or "agree" scores 0, and "disagree" or "strongly disagree" scores 1.The total score ranges from 0 to 14.The authors varied the order of the response options between items to avoid response-set effects. Because the original scoring only depends on agreement versus disagreement, this does not change the scoring rule.Alternative scoring: recent approaches code the four response categories separately (0 to 3) and sum them for a total of 0 to 42, to give greater spread in the data. With this ordinal scoring, items 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 need reverse scoring if the original response order is kept, so that all items score in the same direction.
Interpreting scores:
Original SHAPS score
Meaning
2 or less
"Normal" score
3 or more
"Abnormal" score
The original study also used ROC analysis to examine a cut-point of 4/5 against clinically significant diminished hedonic tone, defined as a MADRS "inability to feel" rating above 4.
Administration Format
The SHAPS is a self-administered questionnaire. A clinician-administered version, the SHAPS-C, is also available.
Applications of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)
The SHAPS supports several uses:
Clinical assessment: measuring anhedonia in psychiatric patients, including people with depression.Monitoring change: the original study reported sensitivity to clinical change.Research: measuring hedonic tone in general and psychiatric populations.Languages and availability
The SHAPS has been translated and validated in many languages:
Arabic: convergent validity and internal consistencyMandarin Chinese: factor structure and measurement invarianceSpanish: translation and validationFrench: validation studyRussian: validation in patients with unipolar depressionGerman: SHAPS-DBrazilian Portuguese: psychometric propertiesJapanese: validity and reliability assessmentThe Royal College of Psychiatrists, which owns The British Journal of Psychiatry, holds the copyright. A copy of the scale is available from Recovery Answers, and the NIDA Data Share describes the scale.
Reliability and Validity
The original study reported satisfactory internal consistency, split-half reliability, criterion validity, ROC performance and sensitivity to clinical change.
Validation studies:
A scale for the assessment of hedonic tone: the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (1995): study linkValidation of the French version of the SHAPS (1997): study linkFurther validation of the SHAPS in clinical and non-clinical populations (2007): study linkPsychometric evaluation of the SHAPS in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder (2010): study linkClinical utility of the SHAPS in Chinese settings (2012): study linkValidation of the Malay version of the SHAPS (2014): study linkA further SHAPS validation study published on DergiPark: study linkPsychometric properties of the SHAPS in a nonclinical sample (2019): study linkMeasuring anhedonia in adolescents: a psychometric analysis (2015): study linkLimitations and Considerations
Keep these points in mind:
Children: children's scores had not been established in the original study.Physical illness: performance in physically ill populations had not been established.Blind individuals: the authors specifically noted limitations for blind people.Two scoring methods: the original 0–14 and the alternative 0–42 scoring give different totals, so report which you used.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
The SHAPS-C is a version of the scale modified for clinician administration.
These questionnaires are related:
Fawcett and colleagues' pleasure scaleChapman and colleagues' scales for physical and social anhedoniaKazdin's pleasure scale for childrenAdditional Resources
The original article: linkFor permission enquiries, see the Royal College of Psychiatrists permissions page. The original article lists Dr R. P. Snaith, Division of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK, with no email address.Browse more depression questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale measure?The SHAPS measures hedonic tone, the ability to experience pleasure, and its absence, anhedonia. Its 14 items cover interest and pastimes, social interaction, sensory experience, and food and drink.
How is the SHAPS scored?In the original method, "agree" answers score 0 and "disagree" answers score 1, for a total of 0 to 14. An alternative method scores each answer 0 to 3, for a total of 0 to 42.
What is the SHAPS cut-off score?With the original scoring, a score of 2 or less is described as normal and 3 or more as abnormal. Higher scores indicate greater anhedonia.
Who can complete the SHAPS?The SHAPS is used with adolescents and adults in general and psychiatric populations. Scores for children and for physically ill people had not been established, and the authors noted limitations for blind people.
A Word from ResRef About the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)
The SHAPS is a brief self-administered measure of the ability to experience or anticipate pleasure, developed for use in general and psychiatric populations. The original study reported satisfactory internal consistency, split-half reliability, criterion validity, ROC performance and sensitivity to clinical change. Caution is warranted outside the studied age groups and populations, as children's scores and performance in physically ill populations had not been established, and the authors specifically noted limitations for blind individuals.
References
Snaith, R. P., Hamilton, M., Morley, S., Humayan, A., Hargreaves, D., & Trigwell, P. (1995). A scale for the assessment of hedonic tone: The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. The British Journal of Psychiatry: the Journal of Mental Science, 167(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.167.1.99Loas, G., Dubal, S., Perot, P., Tirel, F., Nowaczkowski, P., & Pierson, A. (1997). [Validation of the French version of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS, Snaith et al. 1995). Determination of the statistical parameters in 208 normal subjects and 103 hospitalized patients presenting with depression or schizophrenia]. L'Encephale, 23(6), 454–8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9488929/Franken, I. H., Rassin, E., & Muris, P. (2007). The assessment of anhedonia in clinical and non-clinical populations: further validation of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Journal of Affective Disorders, 99(1-3), 83–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2006.08.020Nakonezny, P. A., Carmody, T. J., Morris, D. W., Kurian, B. T., & Trivedi, M. H. (2010). Psychometric evaluation of the Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 25(6), 328–33. https://doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e32833eb5eeLiu, W. H., Wang, L. Z., Zhu, Y. H., Li, M. H., & Chan, R. C. (2012). Clinical utility of the Snaith-Hamilton-Pleasure scale in the Chinese settings. BMC Psychiatry, 12, 184. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-184Ng, C. G., Chin, S. C., Yee, A. H., Loh, H. S., Sulaiman, A. H., Sherianne Sook Kuan, W., & Habil, M. H. (2014). Validation of Malay Version of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale: Comparison between Depressed Patients and Healthy Subjects at an Out-Patient Clinic in Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: MJMS, 21(3), 62–70. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25246837/Langvik, E., & Borgen Austad, S. (2019). Psychometric Properties of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and a Facet-Level Analysis of the Relationship Between Anhedonia and Extraversion in a Nonclinical Sample. Psychological Reports, 122(1), 360–375. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294118756336Leventhal, A. M., Unger, J. B., Audrain-McGovern, J., Sussman, S., Volk, H. E., & Strong, D. R. (2015). Measuring Anhedonia in Adolescents: A Psychometric Analysis. Journal of Personality Assessment, 97(5), 506–514. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2015.1029072Thomas, J., Al Ali, M., Al Hashmi, A., & Rodriguez, A. (2012). Convergent Validity and Internal Consistency of an Arabic Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale. International Perspectives in Psychology, 1(1), 46–51. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026919Zhang, P., Zhang, N., Fang, S., He, J., Fan, L., Luo, X., Zhang, J., Xiong, Y., Luo, F., Wang, X., Yao, S., & Wang, X. (2021). Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Chinese version of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) in Non-clinical and Clinical populations. Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 759–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.068Fresán, A., & Berlanga, C. (2013). [Translation into Spanish and validation of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) for anhedonia]. Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria, 41(4), 227–31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23884614/Franz, M., Lemke, M. R., Meyer, T., Ulferts, J., Puhl, P., & Snaith, R. P. (1998). [German version of the Snaith-Hamilton-Pleasure Scale (SHAPS-D). Anhedonia in schizophrenic and depressive patients]. Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie, 66(9), 407–13. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-995279Jesus-Nunes, A. P., Coroa, J. P. B. B., Argolo, F. C., Moreira, T. M., Morais-de-Jesus, M., Marback, R. F., Correia-Melo, F. S., Lacerda, A. L. T., & Quarantini, L. C. (2021). Psychometric properties the of Brazilian Portuguese version of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 43(1), 23–29. https://doi.org/10.47626/2237-6089-2019-0066Nagayama, H., Kubo, S., Hatano, T., Hamada, S., Maeda, T., Hasegawa, T., Kadowaki, T., Terashi, H., Yoshioka, M., Nomoto, N., Kano, O., Inoue, M., Shimura, H., Takahashi, T., Uchiyama, T., Watanabe, H., Kaneko, S., Takahashi, T., & Baba, Y. (2012). Validity and reliability assessment of a Japanese version of the Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale. Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 51(8), 865–9. https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6718