Measurement tools for chronic pruritus: assessment of the symptom and the associated burden: a review Chronic pruritus is a subjective, multidimensional and highly impairing symptom of difficult assessment. Its clinical features and secondary burdens may vary substantially between affected individuals and within the same patient across time. Standardized scales and questionnaires have been developed to assess the various dimensions of chronic pruritus. Instruments addressing the intensity, distribution, qualities of associated symptoms, skin status and course over time are available for clinical trials. In addition, patient-oriented questionnaires on reactive conditions, including sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and impairment of quality of life can be used. Assessing the individual patient’s needs before and throughout the treatment is valuable in directing therapeutic priorities and maximizing patient’s satisfaction. Along with a detailed medical history and a comprehensive physical examination, these instruments should be implemented in the clinical routine to achieve a comprehensive assessment of each patient. European experts of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) considered a priority the use of intensity scales and questionnaires on quality of life. Harmonization of the assessment procedures should be aimed for across attending physicians. New technologies including electronic diaries or the use of tablet computers to complete assessment tools constitute helpful aids in the clinical practice by facilitating data collection and saving time. Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article. Published online 20 November 2019 Corresponding author. Address: Department of Dermatology and Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, Münster 48149, Germany. Tel: +492518357470; fax: +492518352559. E-mail address: manuelpedro.pereira@ukmuenster.de (M.P. Pereira). Received August 7, 2017 Accepted September 4, 2019 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the International Forum for the Study of Itch. All rights reserved.