SPIN · Social anxiety
Do I have social anxiety? Free SPIN self-test
Social Anxiety Self-Test
The Social Phobia Inventory - a free social anxiety self-test.
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) is a free 17-item social anxiety screener scored 0-68, covering fear, avoidance, and physical symptoms in social situations. A score of 19 or above suggests social anxiety disorder is worth assessing properly.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
17
Questions
~4
Minutes
Free
Always
Question 1 of 17 · start here
I am afraid of people in authority.
Pick one and the rest of the SPIN continues on the next screen. Free, no sign-up.
What the SPIN measures
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) measures how much, over the past week, you have been bothered by the fear, avoidance, and physiological symptoms characteristic of social anxiety disorder. Its 17 items cover fears of authority figures, parties, public speaking, being criticised, being observed, and being the centre of attention, as well as physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, palpitations, and trembling in social situations.
Each item is scored 0-4, giving a total between 0 and 68. Higher scores indicate more intense social anxiety across a wider range of situations.
The SPIN uniquely combines cognitive fears, avoidance behaviours, and physiological symptoms in one brief measure - many other social-anxiety scales cover only one or two of these dimensions.
Where the SPIN came from
The SPIN was developed in 2000 by Kathryn M. Connor and Jonathan R. T. Davidson at Duke University's Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program, and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. It was validated against the Clinician-Severity Rating in patients with generalised social phobia and community controls, showing strong internal consistency and a screening cut-off of 19 with sensitivity around 73% and specificity around 84% for social anxiety disorder. A three-item version, the Mini-SPIN, has also been validated for rapid screening.
How the SPIN is scored
The SPIN total score maps to five commonly-cited severity bands. A score of 19-20 is the standard screening threshold, with higher scores indicating more severe presentations.
| Score | Severity | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | Minimal | Social anxiety symptoms within the normal range. |
| 21-30 | Mild | Mild social anxiety - worth noticing patterns and avoided situations. |
| 31-40 | Moderate | Moderate social anxiety consistent with social anxiety disorder. CBT has strong evidence at this level. |
| 41-50 | Severe | Severe social anxiety. Structured treatment is typically recommended. |
| 51-68 | Very severe | Very severe social anxiety. Combined therapy and, where appropriate, medication is often needed. |
How the SPIN is used in clinical practice
The SPIN is used in specialist anxiety clinics as a screening and severity measure and is one of the standard outcome measures in trials of CBT and pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder.
A reduction of 6-10 points is generally considered clinically meaningful and often corresponds to a shift in how much a person can do socially without significant distress.
Because the SPIN covers physiological symptoms as well as cognitive fears, it is useful for identifying people whose social anxiety presents primarily as bodily symptoms rather than as classic 'worry about judgement'.
Limitations to keep in mind
- ·The SPIN is a screen, not a diagnosis. Social anxiety disorder is diagnosed via clinical interview, considering functional impairment and the presence of other conditions.
- ·It cannot distinguish between generalised social anxiety and performance-only social anxiety, which respond to somewhat different treatments.
- ·It measures the past week, so a person going through a socially quiet period may under-score even if the disorder is present.
- ·Some items (e.g., 'fear of authority figures') can read differently across cultures and workplaces, so scores should be interpreted with context.
How to read your SPIN score
A score is a starting point, not a verdict. Here is what each band on the SPIN usually means and what a reasonable next step looks like.
Minimal social anxiety
Your score suggests minimal social anxiety. Some nerves before social situations is normal and even useful.
Mild social anxiety
Your score suggests mild social anxiety. Worth noticing patterns - which situations spike it, and what you tend to avoid.
Moderate social anxiety
Your score suggests moderate social anxiety. CBT has strong evidence for this - a few sessions can shift a lot.
Severe social anxiety
Your score suggests severe social anxiety. Please consider working with a therapist - this responds well to treatment.
Very severe social anxiety
Your score suggests very severe social anxiety. Please reach out for support - the right therapy can meaningfully change daily life.
What happens after a high score
A high SPIN score does not mean something is wrong with you, and it does not confirm a diagnosis. It means the pattern you are living with is measurable, and that a trained person can help you understand it properly.
In practice, the next step is usually a conversation: someone takes your history, rules out other causes (thyroid, sleep debt, medication, grief, life circumstance), and looks at how long this has been going on and how much it is costing you. From there you decide together whether therapy, a medical review, or simply structured support is the right fit.
If you want to bring your result to someone, you can email yourself a copy at the end of the test and book an online session with Komel. Sessions are 60 minutes on Google Meet, and you can also start with a shorter 30-minute intro consultation.
Instrument and source
This page administers the Social Anxiety Self-Test (SPIN) as published, without modification to item wording or scoring. It is reproduced here for education and self-screening, scored on your device, and reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist.
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.
Before you start
- · Find a quiet few minutes - answer honestly, not how you wish you felt.
- · There are no right or wrong answers. Pick what feels closest.
- · This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
- · If anything brings up something heavy, support is at the end.
Common questions about the SPIN
What does SPIN stand for?
SPIN stands for Social Phobia Inventory. It is a 17-item self-report measure of social anxiety symptoms developed at Duke University.
What is a positive SPIN score?
A total of 19-20 or higher is the standard cut-off for a positive social anxiety screen. Scores of 31 or higher suggest moderate to severe social anxiety worth evaluating with a clinician.
Is the SPIN the same as the LSAS?
No. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a longer clinician- or self-rated instrument covering 24 specific social situations. The SPIN is shorter, self-report only, and includes physiological symptoms.
Can the SPIN diagnose social anxiety disorder?
No. It is a screening and severity measure. Diagnosis requires a clinical interview.
How often should I retake the SPIN?
In treatment settings it is usually repeated every few weeks to track progress. For personal use, once every few weeks is reasonable - retaking it too often just measures normal weekly variation.
Is the SPIN free to use?
The SPIN is copyrighted by its authors but is freely available for individual and non-commercial clinical use. This site provides it as a personal screening tool.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
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.