The SUDS may be used as a benchmark for a professional or observer to evaluate the progress of treatment.
In desensitization-based therapies, such as those listed below, the patients' regular self assessments enable them to guide the clinician repeatedly as part of the therapeutic dialog.
[3] It has been used in cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety disorders (e.g. exposure practices and hierarchy) and for research purposes.
There is no hard and fast rule by which a patient can self assign a SUDS rating to his or her disturbance or distress, hence the name subjective.
Our brains are sophisticated enough that they can usually summarize a large amount of data very quickly, and often accurately.