SPIN Scoring & Interpretation · Social Phobia Inventory
17-item self-report measure for social anxiety disorder. Screens fear, avoidance, and physiological symptoms. Score 0–68; clinical cutoff ≥19.
SPIN Score Interpreter
Score below the conventional severity threshold. Scores of 19–20 still meet the ≥19 screening cutoff and may warrant brief clinical review.
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. Educational reference only — not a diagnostic tool.
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) is a 17-item self-report measure for social anxiety disorder. Items assess fear, avoidance, and physiological arousal across social and performance situations, producing a total score from 0 to 68.
What is the SPIN?
The SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory) is a 17-item self-report screening tool for social anxiety disorder developed by Connor et al. (2000) at Duke University Medical Center. It measures the core symptom domains of social phobia: fear of social situations, avoidance of social and performance contexts, and physiological symptoms (e.g., blushing, trembling, sweating).
Each item is rated on a 0–4 Likert scale (0 = not at all, 4 = extremely) reflecting distress over the past week. Scores are summed across all 17 items, yielding a total score of 0–68. Higher scores indicate greater social anxiety severity. The commonly used clinical cutoff is ≥19, which demonstrated sensitivity and specificity in the original validation
The SPIN is widely used in both research and clinical settings to screen for social anxiety disorder (SAD), monitor treatment response, and differentiate social phobia from generalized anxiety disorder. It is one of the most frequently cited social anxiety measures in the literature and is in the public domain for clinical use. For clinician-rated severity across a broader range of feared situations, see the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS).
Three Symptom Domains
The SPIN covers Fear (items related to embarrassment and judgment), Avoidance (situations avoided due to anxiety), and Physiological symptoms (physical reactions to social exposure). This three-factor structure supports differentiated clinical assessment.
Response scale: 0 = Not at all · 1 = A little bit · 2 = Somewhat · 3 = Very much · 4 = Extremely
Educational and screening purposes only. Not a substitute for professional clinical evaluation.
SPIN Scoring & Severity Levels
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 (Connor et al., 2000). The severity labels above the cutoff reflect a commonly used clinical convention rather than a single primary study.
Clinical Cutoff Context
The ≥19 cutoff was established in the original Connor et al. (2000) validation study in outpatient clinical and community samples. As with all screening tools, positive screens require clinical follow-up, the SPIN identifies individuals who warrant further evaluation, not a definitive diagnosis.
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. Differentiates social anxiety from generalized worry.
SPIN vs GAD-7 for Anxiety Screening
Both screen for anxiety, but they target different constructs. Choosing the right tool depends on what you need to measure.
Documenting SPIN scores in clinical notes?
SPIN scores belong in the Objective section of your note. See our SOAP notes guide and Intake Notes guide for templates and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 instrument. 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.View source
- 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.View source
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The SPIN Scoring & Interpretation · Social Phobia Inventory qualifies for reimbursement under these CPT codes (US).
Last reviewed: Jun 3, 2026
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