What is this test?
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a widely used psychological assessment designed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. It focuses primarily on physical and somatic symptoms of anxiety such as nervousness, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
Where is it used?
It is commonly used in:
- Clinical psychology and psychiatry settings
- Counselling and therapy sessions
- Research studies on anxiety
How to administer:
Ask the individual to rate how much they have been bothered by each symptom
during the past week, including today.
Response scale:
0 = Not at all
1 = Mildly (did not bother much)
2 = Moderately (unpleasant but manageable)
3 = Severely (very distressing)
Scoring:
All 21 items are summed to obtain a total anxiety score.
Interpretation:
0–7 → Minimal anxiety
8–15 → Mild anxiety
16–25 → Moderate anxiety
26–63 → Severe anxiety