SPIN Test — Social Phobia Inventory (17-Item Social Anxiety Screening)
The Social Phobia Inventory — the standard self-report scale for social anxiety disorder. 17 items, 4 minutes, instant clinical bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Important safety information
The SPIN includes a question about thoughts of self-harm (question 9). If you have had any such thoughts recently, please reach out for support before or instead of taking this assessment — you do not need to take a test to deserve help.
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The 17 SPIN items
The scale asks how much each item bothered you over the past week on a 5-point scale:
0 = Not at all · 1 = A little bit · 2 = Somewhat · 3 = Very much · 4 = Extremely
The items load onto three clusters:
Fear cluster (6 items): Fear of people in authority; fear of blushing in front of people; fear of embarrassment; fear of parties; fear of criticism; fear of being embarrassed by shaking or trembling.
Avoidance cluster (7 items): Avoiding talking to strangers; avoiding activities where the centre of attention; avoiding giving speeches; avoiding parties; avoiding being alone with others in authority; avoiding social gatherings; avoiding doing things or speaking to people for fear of embarrassment.
Physiological arousal cluster (4 items): Physical symptoms (racing heart, sweating, blushing) when the centre of attention; symptoms of embarrassment / discomfort when talking to strangers; symptoms when meeting new people; physical symptoms in the presence of authority figures.
Total ranges 0-68.
SPIN severity band table
| Score | Severity | What it means | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | None / minimal | Symptoms typical for everyday life | Continue self-monitoring |
| 21-30 | Mild social anxiety | Symptoms present, some social avoidance | Behavioural activation + CBT skills; retake in 4 weeks |
| 31-40 | Moderate | Symptoms causing clear impairment | Clinical evaluation; CBT with exposure indicated |
| 41-50 | Severe | Significant impairment in work / social / education | Clinical evaluation this week; combined CBT + medication often indicated |
| 51-68 | Very severe | Major impairment, often housebound | Urgent clinical evaluation; intensive treatment |
How the SPIN was developed
The SPIN was developed by Jonathan Davidson and colleagues at Duke University Medical Center in 2000 (British Journal of Psychiatry, 2000). It was designed as a short self-report screener + severity measure for social anxiety disorder, at a time when existing scales (LSAS, SPAI) were considered too long for primary-care use.
The 17 items were selected from a larger item pool through item-response-theory analysis to identify the shortest set that preserved diagnostic discrimination. The three-cluster structure (fear + avoidance + physiological) reflects the standard cognitive-behavioural model of social anxiety.
The Mini-SPIN (3 items derived from the SPIN, 2001) is a fast primary-care screener with sensitivity comparable to the full SPIN. The full SPIN is preferred when a diagnostic conversation and severity mapping follow.
The SPIN is now the recommended social anxiety screener across multiple international guidelines, used as the primary outcome measure in most social anxiety CBT trials and in SSRI + venlafaxine social anxiety RCTs.
SPIN vs other social anxiety scales
| Test | Items | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPIN | 17 | 4 min | General social anxiety screening + severity |
| Mini-SPIN | 3 | 1 min | Fast primary-care screening |
| LSAS | 24 situations × 2 ratings = 48 | 8 min | Detailed situation-specific mapping; CBT exposure planning |
| SPAI | 45 | 15 min | Deep self-report with agoraphobia sub-scale |
| SIAS | 20 | 4 min | Interaction anxiety specifically (see SIAS) |
Use SPIN for general social anxiety screening + severity tracking. Use LSAS when exposure work is being planned. Use SIAS if interaction anxiety (vs performance anxiety) is the specific focus.
When to act on your SPIN result
- 0-20: No action. Retake if new social contexts (new job, new city) arise.
- 21-30 (mild): Behavioural activation, exposure hierarchy building, self-help CBT. The CBT Thought Record is first-line. Retake in 4 weeks.
- 31-40 (moderate): Clinical evaluation. CBT with structured exposure is first-line; SSRI may be added. Book a Mindtalk psychologist.
- 41-50 (severe): Clinical evaluation this week. Combined CBT + medication often indicated. Consider the 90-day Anxiety Loop Breaker programme.
- 51-68 (very severe): Urgent clinical evaluation. Full assessment for social anxiety subtype, avoidant personality features, and intensive treatment planning.
After the SPIN
- Track over time. Retake every 4 weeks during treatment. CBT-driven improvement in the avoidance cluster is usually the earliest visible signal.
- Pair with LSAS if exposure is planned. LSAS maps which specific situations to work on first.
- Screen depression. Social anxiety and depression co-occur in ~50% of cases. Take PHQ-9 alongside.
- Structured programme. The 90-day Anxiety Loop Breaker programme suits SPIN 25-45 range and includes structured exposure.
- Book a specialist. Mindtalk's psychologists with CBT expertise treat social anxiety across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India.
How to take the SPIN
- 1
Open the SPIN in the Mindtalk app
Tap "Take the SPIN" to open the assessment. You will need a free Mindtalk account — sign-in takes under a minute.
- 2
Answer the 17 items
Rate how much each statement bothered you over the past week (0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = Somewhat, 3 = Very much, 4 = Extremely).
- 3
Get your total, cluster breakdown, and severity band
Receive a total 0-68 score, split by fear/avoidance/physiological clusters, severity band, and a personalised next-step recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is the SPIN?
- The SPIN has excellent psychometric properties for social anxiety screening. Internal consistency around 0.88-0.94. A cut-off of 19 has 78% sensitivity and 71% specificity for DSM-defined Social Anxiety Disorder against structured clinical interview. It has been used as the primary outcome measure in most social anxiety CBT trials and in SSRI + venlafaxine social anxiety RCTs. Validation studies span the US, Europe, Latin America, India, and East Asia.
- What's the difference between social anxiety and shyness?
- Shyness is a common personality trait — mild discomfort in new social situations that eases with familiarity and does not significantly impair function. Social Anxiety Disorder is a diagnosable condition — intense fear or anxiety about being scrutinised or negatively evaluated in social situations, which is either persistent, disproportionate to actual threat, and causes clinically significant distress or functional impairment (in work, education, relationships, or daily activities). The SPIN cut-off of 19 is where clinical significance typically begins.
- What are the SPIN severity bands?
- Standard bands are: 0-20 no / minimal social anxiety, 21-30 mild social anxiety, 31-40 moderate, 41-50 severe, 51+ very severe. Clinical response to treatment is often defined as SPIN reduction of 30% or greater; remission as SPIN < 21.
- SPIN vs LSAS — which should I take?
- The LSAS (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale) is longer (24 situations, each rated for fear + avoidance = 48 ratings, 8 minutes) and more detailed. It maps specific social situations you find hardest, which is very useful for CBT exposure planning. The SPIN is a shorter general severity measure. Rule of thumb: SPIN for screening + tracking; LSAS when planning exposure work or when a specific situational profile matters.
- Is the SPIN validated in India?
- Yes. The SPIN has been validated in Indian samples and translated into Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Bengali. It is used at NIMHANS, AIIMS, Cadabams, and multiple specialist anxiety clinics. Social anxiety appears to be under-detected in Indian samples — cultural norms around social hierarchy and public embarrassment mean many people normalise SPIN-elevated symptoms as 'just how I am.'
- Should I take SPIN if I already took GAD-7?
- Yes if social situations specifically are your main concern. GAD-7 measures generalized anxiety — worry about many things across many situations. SPIN measures social anxiety specifically — fear of scrutiny, avoidance of performance and interaction situations, physiological arousal in social contexts. They can be elevated independently. Roughly half of social anxiety cases have comorbid generalized anxiety, so taking both is often useful.
- How do I take the SPIN?
- Click 'Take the SPIN'. Complete the 17 items (3-4 minutes), receive your total + cluster split + severity band, and get a personalised next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.