SPIN Scoring & Interpretation · Social Phobia Inventory
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) is a 17-item self-report questionnaire that screens for social anxiety disorder by measuring fear, avoidance and physiological symptoms over the past week. Items are rated 0–4 for a total of 0–68, with a validated screening cutoff of 19 or higher (Connor et al., 2000).
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
SPIN Score Interpreter
SPIN Score Calculator
Enter each of the 17 items (0–4) to total them and see the band. Items are numbered, not reproduced — enter them from the form in front of you. Scoring aid only; it does not diagnose.
0 of 17 items entered — 17 still blank. The total can only rise, so treat the range as provisional.
Each item scores 0–4.
Enter a total score to see its range.
17 items, each rated 0–4 (not at all to extremely) over the past week. Sum all items. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Total score Interpretation 51+ Very SevereScore indicates very severe social anxiety. Urgent clinical evaluation is recommended. 41–50 SevereScore indicates severe social anxiety symptoms. Comprehensive clinical evaluation is strongly recommended. 31–40 ModerateScore suggests moderate social anxiety. Clinical follow-up is recommended to assess functional impact. 21–30 MildScore suggests mild social anxiety. Note: scores ≥19 meet the validated screening threshold and warrant clinical evaluation. 0–20 None/MinimalScore below the conventional severity threshold. Scores of 19–20 still meet the ≥19 screening cutoff and may warrant brief clinical review. Connor KM et al. 2000 — ≥19 cutoff per original validation (Br J Psychiatry 176:379-386). Severity range labels above the cutoff reflect a commonly used clinical convention, not a single primary study.
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) is a 17-item self-report questionnaire that screens for social anxiety disorder by measuring fear, avoidance and physiological symptoms. Totals run from 0 to 68, and a score of 19 or more is the validated screening cutoff 1.
What does the SPIN measure?
The SPIN was developed at Duke University Medical Center because no self-rated social phobia scale then covered the full spectrum of fear, avoidance and physiological symptoms 1. Physiological symptoms include blushing, trembling and sweating.
Each item is rated on a 0–4 scale (0 = not at all, 4 = extremely) for the past week. The 17 items are summed for a total of 0–68; higher scores indicate greater social anxiety severity.
The SPIN is used to screen for social anxiety disorder (SAD) and to track treatment response 1. For clinician-rated severity across a broader range of feared situations, see the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS).
Three symptom domains
The SPIN is scored on three subscales: fear (embarrassment and judgment), avoidance (situations avoided because of anxiety) and physiological symptoms (physical reactions to social exposure). In the original study, factor analysis of the items identified five factors 1.
How do you give the SPIN?
The SPIN is entirely self-report, with no clinician scoring or observation required. The person rates how much each of the 17 statements applied to them over the past week. Use the calculator above to total the items; items are numbered, not reproduced.
Response scale: 0 = Not at all · 1 = A little bit · 2 = Somewhat · 3 = Very much · 4 = Extremely.
How do you score and interpret the SPIN?
Total score = sum of all 17 items (0–4 each). Score range: 0–68.
| SPIN total (0–68) | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0–20 | None to minimal (scores 19–20 still meet the ≥19 screening cutoff) |
| 21–30 | Mild |
| 31–40 | Moderate |
| 41–50 | Severe |
| 51–68 | Very severe |
The validated screening cutoff is ≥19 1. The severity labels above the cutoff reflect a commonly used clinical convention rather than a single primary study.
Clinical cutoff context
The ≥19 cutoff comes from the original validation, where a score of 19 distinguished participants with social phobia from controls 1. As with all screening tools, positive screens need clinical follow-up: the SPIN identifies people who warrant further evaluation, not a definitive diagnosis.
What are the SPIN subscales?
The SPIN has three subscales capturing distinct aspects of social anxiety.
Fear (6 items)
Distress about embarrassment, negative evaluation, and being judged in social or performance situations. Core cognitive component of social anxiety.
Avoidance (7 items)
Behavioural avoidance of social situations, parties, public speaking, eating in front of others. Avoidance maintains the anxiety cycle and impairs functioning.
Physiological (4 items)
Physical reactions including blushing, sweating, trembling, and racing heartbeat triggered by social exposure.
Psychometric properties
- Original validation. The SPIN showed good test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity; a score of 19 distinguished people with social phobia from controls, and scores were responsive to change during drug treatment 1.
- Independent evaluation. In 132 people with social phobia, 57 with panic disorder and agoraphobia and 62 with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the SPIN had excellent internal consistency and good test-retest reliability, discriminated well between social phobia and the other two disorders, and was sensitive to change after cognitive-behavioural group treatment 2.
Limitations
- Screening, not diagnosis. A score of 19 or more identifies people who need a clinical evaluation; it does not diagnose social anxiety disorder.
- Severity bands are a convention. Only the ≥19 cutoff comes from the validation study; the mild-to-very-severe labels are not from a single primary study.
- Self-report. Results depend on insight and candour, and can be influenced by the avoidance the scale is measuring.
- Overlap. Physiological and avoidance items can be raised by other anxiety disorders; interpret alongside a clinical interview.
SPIN vs GAD-7 for anxiety screening
Both screen for anxiety, but they target different constructs. The SPIN measures fear and avoidance of social and performance situations; the GAD-7 measures generalized worry. Choose by what you need to measure, or give both when social fears and general worry overlap.
SPIN scores belong in the Objective section of a SOAP note.
For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.
Measuring progress with clients?
HiBoop sends validated measures such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 by email or QR code, scores them on submission and charts each client's results over time.
Related
Billing
In the US, the SPIN Scoring & Interpretation · Social Phobia Inventory is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
- Publisher
- Jonathan Davidson (1995, 2008, 2015)
- First published
- 2000
- Terms
- It is not in the public domain: written permission from the copyright holder is required to use or reproduce it.
Assessments
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Scoring & Interpretation
- DSM-5-TR Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure, Adult
- GAD-7 Scoring and Interpretation
- BDI-II Scoring Guide · Beck Depression Inventory
- CES-D: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
- CES-DC Scoring · Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children
Dot size shows how strongly each scale's condition is linked to this one in HiBoop's co-occurrence map.
Common paths
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Individual CBT had the largest effect of the psychological treatments and beat psychological placebo in a network meta-analysis of 101 trials with 13,164 participants.
Mayo-Wilson E, et al. Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(5):368–76.
FAQ
What is a high SPIN score?
The validated screening cutoff is ≥19, at which point the SPIN distinguishes individuals with social anxiety disorder from non-clinical controls. By a widely used clinical convention, scores of 21–30 reflect mild severity, 31–40 moderate, 41–50 severe, and ≥51 very severe; these higher-range labels are not derived from a single primary study but represent a convention consistently used across clinical and research settings.
Is the SPIN self-report or clinician-administered?
The SPIN is entirely self-report. Respondents rate each of the 17 items on a 0–4 scale reflecting how much each statement applied to them over the past week, with no clinician scoring or observation required.
Can the SPIN diagnose social anxiety disorder?
No. The SPIN is a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. A score at or above the ≥19 cutoff identifies individuals who warrant further clinical evaluation; diagnosis of social anxiety disorder requires a comprehensive clinical assessment by a qualified professional.
How is the SPIN scored?
Total score is the sum of all 17 item ratings, each on a 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely) scale, giving a possible range of 0–68. Higher scores indicate greater social anxiety severity. There are no reverse-scored items.
References
- 1.Connor KM, Davidson JR, Churchill LE, Sherwood A, Foa E, Weisler RH. Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). New self-rating scale. Br J Psychiatry. 2000;176:379-386.
- 2.Antony MM, Coons MJ, McCabe RE, Ashbaugh A, Swinson RP. Psychometric properties of the social phobia inventory: further evaluation. Behav Res Ther. 2006;44(8):1177-1185.
SPIN © Jonathan Davidson (1995, 2008, 2015). It is not in the public domain: written permission from the copyright holder is required to use or reproduce it.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.