Anxiety afflicts approximately 40 million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The spectrum of anxiety disorders includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias.
Although different anxiety disorders result from different stressful experiences, they all present with feelings of dread, worry or unease. Therefore, many anxiety screening tools generally assess all possible types of anxiety by evaluating symptoms common to them all.
Screening instruments, usually in the form of a self-administered questionnaire, do not generally diagnose any particular anxiety disorder, but instead provide a rating of the seriousness of the anxiety symptoms. The internet contains many general anxiety screening instruments, not all of which have been validated in research studies. Validated instruments available online include the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.
Beck Anxiety Inventory
The Beck Anxiety Inventory, or BAI, comprises 21 questions that ask about various anxiety symptoms, particularly physical ones such as numbness, feeling hot, dizziness, breathing difficulties and indigestion. Cognitive and emotional symptoms measured by this scale include fear of the worst happening, dying and losing control. Each question uses a zero to three scale. A total score of 36 or higher is considered cause for concern and consultation with a physician or therapist.
Many scientists and clinicians consider the BAI most valuable for the diagnosis of symptoms related to panic disorder, as many of the symptoms measured by the BAI are diagnostic of those associated with panic disorder, according to a 1996 issue of the journal "Behaviour Research and Therapy."
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale
The Zung contains 20 questions regarding anxiety symptoms experienced over the previous week. Like the BAI, it also measures many physical symptoms such as dizziness, racing heart, body aches, indigestion and need to urinate. Cognitive and emotional symptoms assessed include a feeling of falling apart, feeling of fear and getting upset easily. Each item uses a one to four scale, and some scores are reversed and therefore require careful scoring. A score under 45 is considered normal.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, or HAM-A, is designed to be administered by a clinician, but can be self-administered by anyone to get a general picture of their level of anxiety. It comprises 14 questions rated on a scale of zero to four. Each question names a specific type of complaint, and the individual rates it based on current experience.
Like the two anxiety scales above, physical symptoms dominate the scale, including gastrointestinal issues, urinary problems, body pains, unusual sensory experiences like tinnitus and cardiovascular symptoms such as awareness of palpitations. Scores can range from zero to 56. A score below 17 is considered mild while a score of 25 or higher is considered moderate to severe.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count -- Mental Disorders in America
- My Online Therapy: The Beck Anxiety Inventory
- Addiction Pain: Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale
- Anxiety Help: Hamilton Anxiety Scale
- "Behaviour Research and Therapy" journal; Does the Beck Anxiety Inventory Measure Anything Beyond Panic Attack Symptoms?; BJ Cox and colleagues; Nov-Dec 1996
