LSAS: Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale

The LSAS is the criterion-standard measure of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in clinical research. 24 situations rated on both fear (0–3) and avoidance (0–3). Total score 0–144; ≥55 indicates clinically significant social anxiety. Liebowitz (1987).

What is the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale?

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) was developed by Michael R. Liebowitz at Columbia University (1987) as a detailed clinician-administered rating scale for social anxiety disorder. It has become the most widely used outcome measure in social anxiety disorder clinical trials, validated in hundreds of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy studies.

The LSAS covers 24 social and performance situations across two domains: social interaction (13 items) and performance (11 items). For each situation, the patient rates both Fear (0 = None, 3 = Severe) and Avoidance (0 = Never, 3 = Usually). The total score (0–144) is the sum of all fear and avoidance ratings. Subscale scores can also be calculated for Fear Total (0–72) and Avoidance Total (0–72).

A total score of ≥55 is the commonly cited threshold for clinically significant social anxiety disorder. The LSAS self-report version (LSAS-SR) has psychometric properties equivalent to the clinician-administered version. The scale is free for clinical use and widely available in research publications.

For each situation, rate your level of Fear and Avoidance over the past week.

Educational reference only. Cannot diagnose or replace clinical evaluation.

LSAS Score Ranges

Liebowitz (1987); Heimberg et al. (1999). Validated across clinical trial populations for social anxiety disorder.

Social Anxiety Tracking in HiBoop

LSAS alongside SPIN and GAD-7, longitudinal social anxiety scoring to monitor treatment response and functional impairment across every patient.