Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTest AdministrationQuestionsWhat Your Score MeansHow Accurate Are the Results?Where to Take the TestDiagnosing Social AnxietySocial Anxiety Treatments

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Test Administration

Questions

What Your Score Means

How Accurate Are the Results?

Where to Take the Test

Diagnosing Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety Treatments

Close

Experts now recommend routine anxiety screening for all women and girls over the age of 13, so the LSAS is one type of screening tool that you may encounter during a routine doctor’s visit.

At a GlanceIf you think you might have social anxiety disorder (SAD), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale can help evaluate your symptoms. The questions on the assessment identify a wide variety of social situations and then ask you to rate the degree of fear and avoidance you experience for each situation. The test is a quick, cost-effective way to accurately determine whether a person might have a problem with social anxiety. You can take the LSAS online for free, but only a doctor or mental health professional can diagnose social anxiety disorder. If you believe you have SAD, talk to your doctor or therapist to learn more about your treatment options.

At a Glance

If you think you might have social anxiety disorder (SAD), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale can help evaluate your symptoms. The questions on the assessment identify a wide variety of social situations and then ask you to rate the degree of fear and avoidance you experience for each situation. The test is a quick, cost-effective way to accurately determine whether a person might have a problem with social anxiety. You can take the LSAS online for free, but only a doctor or mental health professional can diagnose social anxiety disorder. If you believe you have SAD, talk to your doctor or therapist to learn more about your treatment options.

How the LSAS Is Administered

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale assesses both your social anxiety in situations as well as your avoidance of those situations. In this way, each item on the LSAS describes a situation in which you must answer the following questions.

Anxiety Questions (how anxious or fearful you feel)0 = none1 = mild2 = moderate3 = severeAvoidance Questions (how often you avoid the situation)0 = never1 = occasionally2 = often3 = severe

Anxiety Questions (how anxious or fearful you feel)0 = none1 = mild2 = moderate3 = severe

0 = none

1 = mild

2 = moderate

3 = severe

Avoidance Questions (how often you avoid the situation)0 = never1 = occasionally2 = often3 = severe

0 = never

1 = occasionally

2 = often

If a question describes a situation that you do not ordinarily experience, you are asked to imagine how you would respond if faced with the situation. All questions are answered based on how the situations have affected you in thepast week.

Questions on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale

Below are some sample situations from the questionnaire:

This is just a brief list, and the LSAS covers many other types of situations that are commonly known to trigger social anxiety performance anxiety and concerns. Situations that can commonly lead to social anxiety symptoms include interacting with strangers, making phone calls, and encountering unfamiliar social settings.

What Your LSAS Score Means

55–65: Moderate social phobia65–80: Marked social phobia80–95: Severe social phobiaGreater than 95: Very severe social phobia

Accuracy of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale

Studies have shown the LSAS to be an effective and cost-efficient way to identify people with problems with social anxiety. Research indicates that the scale is reliable and valid formeasuring global social anxiety.

Another study concluded that the LSAS measures the same trait in the same way across all expressions of social anxiety symptoms. The researchers concluded that the scale is a good tool for assessing, screening, and researching social anxiety.

However, a single instrument can’t be used to make a diagnosis.

Taking the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale

Your doctor or therapist may administer the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, but you should also know that the LSAS isfreely availablefor you to complete online if you wish. If you complete the test and find the results concerning, be sure to check with your doctor about what they might mean.

Your results may point to social anxiety, but it is essential to talk to a doctor or mental health professional to evaluate your symptoms and rule out other potential causes.

While an assessment such as the LSAS can be informative, it’s only in the context of a larger evaluation that the cause of your symptoms can be determined and a course of action planned.

Other Social Anxiety AssessmentsOther self-report social anxiety measures include the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS).

Other Social Anxiety Assessments

Other self-report social anxiety measures include the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS).

What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?

If you are concerned that you may be living with symptoms of anxiety or avoidance, make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss the next steps.

If this feels hard to do, consider making an appointment for general mental health concerns, and then when you meet with your doctor, bring along a copy of the LSAS as well as a written statement of what you have been experiencing.

Depending on your health insurance, you can also make an appointment with a mental health professional without consulting your primary care doctor.

Treatments That Can Help Social Anxiety

Know that you are not alone in the way that you are feeling and that your doctor can either conduct an assessment or refer you to a mental health professional who can provide a diagnosis and treatment options such as medication or talk therapy.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Social anxiety disorder is often treated withcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach focused on helping people change the underlying thoughts and behaviors that contribute to social fear and avoidance.

Exposure Therapy

Medications

Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and Effexor (venlafaxine) are FDA-approved to treat social anxiety disorder. Other medications may also be prescribed off-label, including otherSSRIs, SNRIs,MAOIs,beta-blockers, andbenzodiazepines.

If you or a loved one are struggling with social anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with social anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Social Anxiety Disorder Treatments

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Caballo VE, Salazar IC, Arias V, Hofmann SG, Curtiss J.Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample.Braz J Psychiatry. 2019;41(2):122-130. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0006Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Williams T, Hattingh CJ, Kariuki CM, et al.Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD001206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub3

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Caballo VE, Salazar IC, Arias V, Hofmann SG, Curtiss J.Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample.Braz J Psychiatry. 2019;41(2):122-130. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0006Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Williams T, Hattingh CJ, Kariuki CM, et al.Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD001206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub3

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Caballo VE, Salazar IC, Arias V, Hofmann SG, Curtiss J.Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample.Braz J Psychiatry. 2019;41(2):122-130. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0006Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Williams T, Hattingh CJ, Kariuki CM, et al.Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD001206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub3

Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580

Caballo VE, Salazar IC, Arias V, Hofmann SG, Curtiss J.Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample.Braz J Psychiatry. 2019;41(2):122-130. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0006

Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413

Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687

Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045

Williams T, Hattingh CJ, Kariuki CM, et al.Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD001206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub3

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