SCOFF accuracy Eating disorder test
How accurate is the SCOFF?
Short answer: the SCOFF is a well-validated screening tool — good at flagging who should have a fuller evaluation, not at handing out a diagnosis. It was developed by Morgan, Reid & Lacey in 1999 and has been tested against clinical interviews in independent studies. A memorable five-item screen with strong sensitivity for anorexia and bulimia, designed to be quick enough for any consultation.
Measured two or more “yes” answers warrants a fuller assessment.
What the numbers mean
Sensitivity is how often the test correctly flags people who do have the condition; specificity is how often it correctly clears those who don't. High figures on both mean the SCOFF misses few real cases while raising few false alarms — which is exactly what you want from a first-pass screen.
The honest limits
No screening tool is perfect, and self-administration online adds its own caveats:
- It was validated mainly for anorexia and bulimia — it is weaker for binge-eating and other patterns.
- Being brief and blunt, it produces false positives; a “positive” result means "worth assessing", not "confirmed".
- Only a qualified clinician can diagnose an eating disorder.
Does taking it online change the accuracy?
The questions and scoring here are identical to the clinical version, so the instrument itself is unchanged. What differs is context: a clinician also weighs your history, rules out other causes, and interprets borderline scores. That's why every result here points you toward a professional rather than standing in for one. Reproducing the instrument faithfully is our job; diagnosing is theirs.