About the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)
The Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure specifically designed to assess the severity and impact of Peyronie's Disease on patients. It evaluates three primary domains: psychological and physical symptoms, penile pain, and symptom bother. The PDQ has demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients exceeding 0.85 for all subscales, and strong internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha estimates above 0.70. The questionnaire is responsive to changes in PD symptoms, making it a valuable tool for monitoring treatment outcomes in both clinical practice and research settings.
Medical Specialties
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
The Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) was developed by Dr. Wayne J.G. Hellstrom and colleagues, with validation studies published in 2013. The questionnaire was developed to address the need for a validated patient-reported outcome measure specifically for Peyronie's Disease, as existing measures did not adequately capture the unique psychosexual impact of this condition.
Copyright & Licensing
The PDQ is a proprietary instrument. Copyright and licensing information should be verified with the developers or publishers. Use in clinical practice and research may require permission or licensing.
Administration Instructions
Please answer all questions honestly based on your experience with Peyronie's Disease. This questionnaire is intended for men who have had vaginal intercourse within the last 3 months.
Scoring Methodology
The PDQ consists of 15 items across three subscales. The Psychological and Physical Symptoms subscale (6 items) is scored 0-4 per item (None=0, Mild=1, Moderate=2, Severe=3, Very Severe=4), yielding a range of 0-24. The Penile Pain subscale (3 items) uses an 11-point numeric rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) based on the last 24 hours, yielding a range of 0-30. The Symptom Bother subscale (6 items) includes 4 Likert items scored 0-4 (Not at all bothered=0, Slightly=1, Moderately=2, Very=3, Extremely=4) and 2 yes/no items (Yes=1, No=0), yielding a range of 0-18. The Total Score is the sum of all three subscales, ranging from 0-72. Subscale scores are calculated if at least 5 of 6 items (Psychological and Physical Symptoms), 2 of 3 items (Penile Pain), or 5 of 6 items including both yes/no items (Symptom Bother) are answered. The Total Score is calculated only when all three subscales are valid. Higher scores indicate greater severity or impact of Peyronie's Disease.
Meaningful Change Threshold
A change of 5-10 points in the PDQ Total Score may indicate clinically significant improvement or worsening. Changes in individual subscale scores should also be considered, with improvements of 3-5 points in the Psychological and Physical Symptoms subscale, 2-4 points in the Penile Pain subscale, and 2-4 points in the Symptom Bother subscale potentially representing meaningful clinical change. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) has not been definitively established, but responsiveness studies suggest the PDQ is sensitive to treatment-related changes.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
minimal impact
0 - 18Minimal impact - Patient experiences minimal psychosexual impact from Peyronie's Disease. Symptoms are well-managed with minimal interference in daily life and sexual function.
mild impact
19 - 36Mild impact - Patient experiences some psychosexual impact from Peyronie's Disease. Symptoms cause mild interference but are generally manageable.
moderate impact
37 - 54Moderate impact - Patient experiences significant psychosexual impact from Peyronie's Disease. Symptoms cause noticeable interference in daily life and sexual function, warranting clinical intervention.
severe impact
55 - 72Severe impact - Patient experiences substantial psychosexual impact from Peyronie's Disease. Symptoms cause significant interference in daily life and sexual function, requiring active treatment and support.
Subscales
This questionnaire measures multiple dimensions
Penile Pain (0-30)
Measures the severity of penile pain during erection, during sexual activity, and at rest over the last 24 hours.
Symptom Bother (0-18)
Evaluates the degree to which Peyronie's Disease symptoms interfere with daily life, sexual relationships, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.
Psychological and Physical Symptoms (0-24)
Assesses the psychological and physical manifestations of Peyronie's Disease, including penile curvature, shortening, narrowing, difficulty with penetration, anxiety, and depression.
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
The PDQ is intended for men who have had vaginal intercourse within the last 3 months, which may limit its applicability to certain patient populations. The questionnaire focuses on psychosexual impact and may not capture all aspects of Peyronie's Disease, such as physical examination findings or objective measurements of curvature. Cultural and language differences may affect interpretation, and validated translations should be used for non-English speaking populations. The PDQ should be used as part of a comprehensive clinical assessment rather than as the sole basis for treatment decisions.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)
- 1
Bother and distress associated with Peyronie's disease: validation of the Peyronie's disease questionnaire
Hellstrom WJ, Feldman R, Rosen RC, Smith T, Kaufman G, Tursi J
The Journal of Urology, 2013
- 2
Responsiveness of the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)
Hellstrom WJ, Feldman R, Rosen RC, Smith T, Kaufman G, Tursi J
The Journal of Urology, 2014
- 3
Psychometric properties of the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire: a systematic review
Rosen RC, Smith T, Kaufman G, Tursi J, Hellstrom WJ
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2015
Related Outcome Measures
Other clinical questionnaires for similar specialties and conditions
International Index of Erectile Function - 6 (IIEF-6)
A 6-item questionnaire focusing on erectile function, extracted from the full IIEF. Assesses erection frequency, firmness, maintenance, and satisfaction over the past 4 weeks.
Sexual Quality of Life – Male (SQoL-M)
An 11-item questionnaire assessing the impact of sexual dysfunctions on men's quality of life. Evaluates emotional and psychological aspects including confidence, anxiety, and relationship concerns.
Patient's Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I)
A single-item questionnaire assessing a patient's perception of change in their condition following treatment. Uses a 7-point scale from "Very much improved" to "Very much worse".
This questionnaire is provided free of charge. Patient Watch charges only for platform services (data storage, automated reminders, analytics) - not for use of clinical instruments. This non-commercial model supports academic and clinical use. View full licensing disclosure