BAI: Beck Anxiety Inventory

The BAI is a 21-item self-report measure of anxiety severity developed by Aaron Beck (1988). Each item is rated 0–3 on symptom intensity. Score 0–63; ≥16 clinically significant. Particularly sensitive to somatic anxiety symptoms. Copyrighted by Pearson.

What is the Beck Anxiety Inventory?

The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was developed by Aaron T. Beck and colleagues (1988) as a 21-item self-report measure specifically designed to distinguish anxiety from depression. It was developed to address the limitation of tools that conflated anxious and depressive symptoms. The BAI focuses particularly on somatic and panic-related symptoms of anxiety.

Each of the 21 items describes a common symptom of anxiety (e.g., numbness or tingling, unable to relax, hot, heart pounding or racing). Respondents indicate how much each symptom has bothered them during the past week on a scale from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Severely, it bothered me a lot and I could barely stand it). Scores range from 0 to 63.

The BAI is copyrighted by Pearson and requires a license to administer. It is available for purchase through Pearson Assessments. For free validated anxiety screening, the GAD-7 (general anxiety), HAM-A (clinician-rated), and SPIN (social anxiety) are widely used public-domain alternatives.

BAI Score Interpreter

Enter a BAI score from a licensed assessment to see the corresponding interpretation.

Score range: 0 (minimal) to 63 (severe anxiety)

BAI is copyrighted by Pearson. This interpreter is for educational reference only.

BAI Score Ranges

Beck et al. (1988). The BAI emphasizes somatic symptoms; scores should be interpreted alongside clinical presentation.

Free Anxiety Screening Alternatives to the BAI

When BAI licensing is unavailable, these free validated tools cover the same clinical territory with strong psychometric properties.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale

7-item primary care anxiety screener. Free, validated, widely used as the BAI equivalent in clinical workflows. Free for clinical use.

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

14-item clinician-rated anxiety scale covering psychic and somatic anxiety. Criterion standard for anxiety clinical trials. Free for clinical use.

Social Phobia Inventory

17-item social anxiety screener covering fear, avoidance, and physiological symptoms. Free for clinical use.

Anxiety Screening Without the Licensing Cost

HiBoop includes GAD-7, HAM-A, PSWQ, and SPIN, validated free anxiety measures that cover everything the BAI does, with automated scoring and longitudinal tracking.