Social Phobia Inventory Test for Social Anxiety

Medically reviewed by Michael MacIntyre, MD

The social phobia inventory scale, or SPIN, is a way of measuring a person’s level of social phobia or social anxiety. Developed at Duke University, it contains 17 expert questions that are said to assist in the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. It is among social phobia assessment tests that include the social phobia scale, or SPS, and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, or SIAS.

SPIN works by asking questions about symptoms of social anxiety in different contexts. Each answer is given on a 5-point Likert scale (extremely agree to not at all) and then scored as a total. There's also a Mini-SPIN test that works the same way but includes only three questions about experiences in the past week.

This article explains the SPIN assessment, how it works, and its limitations. It also presents information about what the results can mean.

Understanding Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is more than feeling nervous or shy in groups. Social anxiety is the intense and often overwhelming fear of social situations, especially those with the potential to be criticized (like dancing or another public activity) or leave you feeling excluded.

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder include physical and emotional changes that vary with the individual and the context. Generally, however, they include:

• Rapid heart rate

• Shortness of breath

• Sweating

• Tremors (shaking)

• Headaches

• Nausea or diarrhea

People experiencing social anxiety also may have a sense of fear or danger, feel tense and irritable, and engage in behaviors that seem restless or hypervigilant (constantly watching for threats).

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Living With Social Anxiety Disorder

Benefits of the Social Phobia Inventory Scale

The SPIN test assesses your level of social anxiety by asking questions about fear, avoidance, and other symptoms of social anxiety. In a SPIN test, you answer how relatable the 17 statements, including the following, have been in your life in the past week:

• Talking to strangers scares me.

• I avoid going to parties.

• Heart palpitations bother me when I am around people.

• Being criticized scares me a lot.

• I am afraid of doing things when people might be watching.

The SPIN test is a tool that healthcare providers can consider when diagnosing and treating social anxiety. It also can be used to evaluate how well treatment, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is working for people diagnosed with social anxiety.

SPIN Test Results Are Not a Diagnosis

By self-reporting and reviewing your answers, you may see where social anxieties pop up in your life and to what degree they’re causing you distress. Keep in mind, though, that although SPIN test results are generally reliable, they do not stand alone as a diagnosis.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Living With Social Anxiety Disorder

How the Social Phobia Inventory Scale Works

The SPIN test (and the mini-SPIN) uses a Likert scale to assess social phobia and how disruptive social anxiety is in different life situations. The answers to questions (like "being embarrassed or looking stupid are among my worst fears") code for intensity, too.

The scale for each individual question is as follows:

• Not at all (0)

• A little bit (1)

• Somewhat (2)

• Very much (3)

• Extremely (4)

SPIN test scoring is based on adding the values from the 17 questions. The lowest possible score is zero; the highest possible score is 68. A score of 19 or more on the SPIN is suggestive of social phobia or social anxiety disorder.

When all 17 questions on the SPIN test are considered, the scoring ranges for results include:

• No social anxiety (0-20)

• Mild (21-30)

• Moderate (31-40)

• Severe (41-50)

• Very severe (51-68)

You and your healthcare provider can consider these results for a social anxiety disorder diagnosis and treatment.

Related: How Generalized Anxiety Disorder Is Treated

Results

Cambridge University Press published a review of the SPIN assessment in January 2018. It's based on original SPIN data that determined it to be accurate (meaning it measures what it’s supposed to measure) and reliable (meaning the test can be replicated or reproduced with similar results).

The original data, from 2000, reflect a 0.78 to 0.89 test-retest reliability in groups with diagnosed social anxiety. In healthy people, the internal consistency of the test (a key measure of its accuracy and usefulness) was 94%.

However, SPIN results may have limitations because they are based on self-reported data from the past week. Other questions concern how the test performs with children, non-English speakers, and ethnic minorities.

Takeaway

You may wish to retake the SPIN as weeks continue to see how social anxiety impacts you over time; some providers recommend two-week intervals. You may also consider bringing your results to your healthcare provider with any follow-up questions or concerns.

Summary

The SPIN questionnaire was designed to help determine if and when you’re experiencing social anxiety and how bad it is. It’s based on 17 questions that ask you to consider how relatable each statement is, on a Likert scale of responses, to your current situation and how you’ve been feeling in the past week.

Your score is generated based on points assigned to responses, with zero being the lowest possible score (no social anxiety) and 68 being the highest possible score (very severe anxiety).

Because the SPIN test is self-reporting, it's only as accurate as a person’s answers to the questions. However, you can use the self-assessment to understand better how social anxiety may impact you and use it as a tool to discuss your mental health with your healthcare provider.

Takeaway

If you or your loved one is having trouble managing symptoms of social anxiety, reach out for help. You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for support.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.