Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a highly regarded clinical instrument designed to assess hedonic tone and detect anhedonia, a core symptom of…

Questions: 14
Duration: 3 min
Original title: SHAPS — Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale
Adaptation: Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale
Authors: Snaith, R.P., Hamilton, M., Morley, S., Humayan, A., Hargreaves, D., Trigwell, P.
Created: 1995

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a highly regarded clinical instrument designed to assess hedonic tone and detect anhedonia, a core symptom of depressive disorders. Unlike many broad symptom checklists, this measure isolates the patient's capacity to experience joy, anticipation, and satisfaction in everyday contexts. Clinicians widely use it to reliably capture emotional blunting, whether during an initial intake or when tracking the evolving clinical picture in ongoing treatment.

Because anhedonia is notoriously difficult for patients to articulate, using a structured tool provides a shared language. It anchors the clinical formulation and helps open the depression conversation in session. By systematically evaluating different facets of enjoyment—from social connections to sensory experiences—the scale offers precise targets for intervention.

Integrating this validated measure allows professionals to confidently measure baseline severity and track responsiveness to treatment. When paired with interventions that explain the behavioral activation rationale, the SHAPS becomes an essential compass. It helps identify which previously rewarding activities have lost their salience, guiding clinicians as they collaboratively build a tailored recovery plan.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

6/ 14

Brief 14-item self-report questionnaire assessing anhedonia, defined as the reduced capacity to experience pleasure in ordinary everyday situations. The items explore four domains: interests and pastimes, social interactions, sensory experiences, and food and drink. Used for the screening and monitoring of anhedonia in patients presenting with a major depressive episode, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other clinical conditions where the loss of pleasure is central.

0–2

normal

3–14

abnormal

Defines an abnormal score indicative of anhedonia.

généralemixed · general population · healthy subjects · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 0.6

cliniquemixed · pathology: Major depressive disorder · current episode · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 5.8

cliniquemixed · pathology: Schizophrenia · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 2.7

cliniquemixed · pathology: Substance use disorder · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 1.7

cliniquemixed · pathology: Parkinson's disease · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 1.5

cliniquemixed · pathology: Chronic pain · 2020 · Trøstheim et al. (2020)

014

M = 1.6

Scoring

Sum, total score from 0 to 14, each item is scored on a 4-point scale (from 0 to 1).

Food and drink

1/ 2

Pleasure derived from food and drink.

items 4, 10

Interests and hobbies

2/ 4

Pleasure derived from interests, hobbies, and leisure activities.

items 1, 3, 9, 11

Sensory experiences

2/ 4

Pleasure derived from physical and aesthetic sensations (scents, landscapes, warm bath).

items 5, 6, 8, 12

Social interactions

1/ 4

Pleasure derived from contact with close ones and social interactions.

items 2, 7, 13, 14

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What the test measures

The SHAPS directly quantifies hedonic capacity by probing a patient's anticipated or recent enjoyment of universally pleasant experiences. It maps the construct of anhedonia across four distinct dimensions of daily life, highlighting exactly where the emotional numbing is most pronounced.

Recreational interests: Evaluates the patient's ability to find satisfaction in personal hobbies, pastimes, and media consumption.
Social interaction: Assesses the capacity to derive warmth and pleasure from interpersonal contact, sharing moments, and receiving validation.
Sensory experience: Measures responsiveness to pleasant physical stimuli, such as soothing environments, appealing scents, and visual aesthetics.
Food and drink: Captures the basic biological enjoyment associated with consuming preferred meals and beverages.

This instrument is primarily utilized with adult populations presenting with mood disorders, schizophrenia, or other psychiatric conditions where emotional blunting is a central clinical feature.

When and why to use it

Clinicians deploy the SHAPS at multiple stages of the therapeutic process to clarify the clinical picture and track subtle shifts in emotional responsiveness. It is particularly valuable when a patient reports feeling empty, disconnected, or uniformly flat.

Intake assessment: To establish a clear baseline of hedonic functioning and differentiate primary anhedonia from general apathy or fatigue.
Treatment monitoring: To track changes over time, particularly when introducing strategies drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build psychological flexibility in depressed patients.
Intervention planning: To identify residual areas of pleasure that can serve as a foundation for behavioral experiments or to break isolation and dose social contact.
Evaluating coping responses: To objectively observe if the patient is regaining joy as they learn to replace avoidance with function-matched replacements.

Utilizing a validated score transforms a vague subjective complaint into a measurable clinical target, offering far more precision than a general clinical impression alone.

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The questions

This questionnaire is designed to measure your ability to experience pleasure in the last few days. It is important to read each statement very carefully. Tick one of the boxes to indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement.
1. I would enjoy my favorite TV or radio show.
This item probes the patient's capacity to find passive enjoyment in routine entertainment.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
2. I would enjoy being with my family or close friends.
This item assesses the emotional warmth and satisfaction derived from close interpersonal relationships.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
3. I would find pleasure in my hobbies and pastimes.
This item evaluates the preservation of active interest and pleasure in personal recreational pursuits.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
4. I would be able to enjoy my favorite meal.
This item measures the fundamental biological and sensory pleasure associated with eating preferred foods.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
5. I would enjoy a warm bath or a refreshing shower.
This item gauges the patient's responsiveness to comforting and soothing tactile sensations.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
6. I would find pleasure in the scent of flowers, the smell of a sea breeze, or freshly baked bread.
This item probes the ability to appreciate pleasant olfactory stimuli in the environment.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
7. I would enjoy seeing the smile on other people's faces.
This item assesses the capacity to experience vicarious joy or positive resonance from the happiness of others.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
8. I would enjoy feeling stylish when I've made an effort with my appearance.
This item evaluates the presence of positive self-regard and satisfaction related to personal grooming and appearance.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
9. I would enjoy reading a book, magazine, or newspaper.
This item measures the ability to sustain attention and find intellectual or narrative enjoyment in written media.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
10. I would enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, or my favorite drink.
This item captures the subtle, everyday pleasure derived from consuming a favored beverage.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
11. I would find pleasure in little things, like a beautiful sunny day or a phone call from a friend.
This item probes the patient's sensitivity to small, spontaneous positive events and daily uplifts.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
12. I would be able to appreciate a beautiful view or landscape.
This item assesses the capacity to experience aesthetic appreciation and awe from natural surroundings.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
13. I would enjoy helping others.
This item evaluates the presence of prosocial satisfaction and the emotional reward of altruistic behavior.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
14. I would feel pleased to receive a compliment.
This item measures the patient's ability to internalize positive feedback and experience social validation.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree