PROMIS-29
General Health Screener
Updated: 3/26/2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly
1. What the PROMIS-29 is (and what it isn’t)
The PROMIS-29, short for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29-item Profile, is a broad, evidence-based health questionnaire that looks at several parts of day-to-day functioning at once. Instead of focusing on just one issue, it measures physical, mental, and social health across seven domains: physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and pain interference, plus a separate 0 to 10 pain intensity item. It is designed to give a fuller picture of how you have been doing overall, not just in one symptom area.
It is not a diagnosis by itself. The PROMIS-29 does not tell you whether you “have” depression, anxiety, a pain disorder, or any other condition. What it does well is show where symptoms or functional strain may be showing up, how far from average those areas are, and whether things are changing over time. That makes it useful for baseline measurement, treatment planning, and progress tracking.
2. Who is the PROMIS-29 for?
The PROMIS-29 is most useful for adults who want a clearer snapshot of how they are doing across multiple areas of health, especially when stress, pain, fatigue, sleep, mood, or daily functioning may all be interacting. It can be used with the general population as well as with people living with chronic health conditions.
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It can be especially helpful if you want a better sense of:
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how anxiety, low mood, fatigue, sleep, and pain may be affecting daily life
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whether symptoms are interfering with work, responsibilities, movement, or relationships
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whether treatment is helping over time
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which areas seem most important to address first
It may be a good fit if you have been noticing things like:
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low energy or feeling run-down much of the week
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poor sleep or sleep that does not feel restorative
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pain that is affecting chores, work, or social activity
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anxiety or depression symptoms that are making daily life harder
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difficulty keeping up with errands, physical tasks, or usual roles
3. What to expect when taking the PROMIS-29?
The PROMIS-29 is a self-report questionnaire with 29 items. Most questions ask about the past 7 days. The physical function and social participation items focus more on what you are able to do, rather than only how often symptoms happened.
You will answer questions across several domains, including:
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physical function
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anxiety
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depression
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fatigue
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sleep disturbance
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ability to participate in social roles and activities
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pain interference
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pain intensity
Because it is a profile measure, the goal is not to “pass” or “fail.” The goal is to see the pattern. Someone might score close to average in mood but show clear strain in fatigue and sleep. Someone else might have relatively low pain but more difficulty with anxiety and daily functioning. That pattern is often more useful than any single number.
4. Understanding your score
The PROMIS-29 does not work like a single total score screener. Each 4-item domain is converted into its own T-score, and the pain intensity item stays on a 0 to 10 scale. PROMIS T-scores are standardized so that 50 represents the average in the reference population, and 10 points represents one standard deviation from that average.
The most important rule for interpretation is this: a higher PROMIS T-score means more of the concept being measured. That means higher scores are worse for negatively worded domains like anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference. But higher scores are better for positively worded domains like physical function and ability to participate in social roles and activities.
A simple way to read the results:
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around 50 is close to average
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higher symptom scores can mean more distress or interference
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lower function scores can mean more limitation in daily life
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pain intensity is read separately on a 0 to 10 scale
Because some PROMIS-29 domains use a “higher is worse” pattern and others use a “higher is better” pattern, the score report needs to be read domain by domain, not as one overall pass-fail result.
5. Next steps
If most of your scores are near average
This usually means you are doing about as well as most people in these areas. That said, it is still worth noticing if one area stands out, like sleep, fatigue, pain, or mood. Even when the overall picture looks okay, one problem area can still be making daily life harder.
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If some symptom scores are high, or some function scores are low
This can mean that certain parts of your health are being affected more strongly right now. In general, higher scores are more concerning for areas like anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and pain interference. Lower scores are more concerning for areas like physical function and social participation. If those results match what you have been feeling in daily life, it may be a good time to get more support.
What to do with the results
PROMIS-29 scores are best used as a starting point, not a final answer. They can help show where you may be struggling most and what might need attention first. They can also be useful to share with a therapist, doctor, or other provider so treatment can focus on the areas that are affecting you most.
6. Additional Resources
If you are interested in further support, learn more about the expertise available here at ScienceWorks!
Our unique care model spans three essential domains to function as a “one-stop-shop” for mental health.
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Assessments: Understand yourself and your treatment better with assessments for ADHD, autism, and general diagnostics. Our custom packages are efficient and affordable.
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Therapy: Dynamic, evidence-based treatments for a wide range of conditions – get an individualized treatment plan with targeted therapies adapted for your brain and your objectives to support the whole person.
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Coaching: Understand your neurotype and enhance treatment outcomes by turning therapeutic concepts into everyday skills to maximize their benefits.
Note: Screeners cannot be used to diagnose or treat any mental health condition - nor can they be used to replace dedicated care from a qualified professional. They can be a helpful tool when searching for, or working with, a professional. If you have questions about applicability, please contact us!