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.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
17
Questions
~4
Minutes
Free
Always
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.
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
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.