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Anxiety · 4 min · 17 questions

SPIN: Social Phobia Inventory

Seventeen questions about social fear, avoidance and physical symptoms over the past week. About 4 minutes.

Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.

SPIN: 0 of 17 answeredScore: 0 / 68 · Below cut-point

How much have the following problems bothered you during the past week?

  1. 1.I am afraid of people in authority
  2. 2.I am bothered by blushing in front of people
  3. 3.Parties and social events scare me
  4. 4.I avoid talking to people I don't know
  5. 5.Being criticized scares me a lot
  6. 6.I avoid doing things or speaking to people for fear of embarrassment
  7. 7.Sweating in front of people causes me distress
  8. 8.I avoid going to parties
  9. 9.I avoid activities in which I am the center of attention
  10. 10.Talking to strangers scares me
  11. 11.I avoid having to give speeches
  12. 12.I would do anything to avoid being criticized
  13. 13.Heart palpitations bother me when I am around people
  14. 14.I am afraid of doing things when people might be watching
  15. 15.Being embarrassed or looking stupid are among my worst fears
  16. 16.I avoid speaking to anyone in authority
  17. 17.Trembling or shaking in front of others is distressing to me

SPIN result

Answer all 17 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.

0
out of 68
Below cut-point
Range 0–18

Your responses are below the usual cut-point for likely social anxiety disorder.

Recommended next steps

  • No action typically indicated.
  • Re-screen if social fears start limiting your life.

Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:

  • SPIN:

Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.

SPIN scoring guide

ScoreInterpretationSuggested action
0–18Below cut-pointNo action typically indicated.
19–68Likely social anxietyArrange an assessment with a mental health professional.

Clinical background

What it measures

The SPIN measures the three core dimensions of social anxiety disorder: fear, avoidance and physiological arousal in social situations, rated over the past week.

How it is scored

Seventeen items scored 0–4 give a total of 0–68. A cut-point of 19 showed 79% sensitivity and 81% specificity for social anxiety disorder (Connor et al., 2000). It is also sensitive to treatment change.

Reference: Connor KM, Davidson JRT, Churchill LE, Sherwood A, Foa E, Weisler RH. Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). Br J Psychiatry. 2000;176:379–386.