Social Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 11, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Tetra Images / Getty Images The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a 24-item, self-rated scale used to assess how social anxiety plays a role in your life across a variety of situations. The LSAS was developed by psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Michael R. Liebowitz. The scale might be used in research studies to determine the level of social anxiety experienced by participants, in clinical settings to assess a particular patient's symptoms, or by people who are concerned that what they are experiencing might be the signs of an anxiety disorder. 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. How the LSAS Is Administered The LSAS assesses both your social anxiety in situations as well as your avoidance of those situations. In this way, each item on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale describes a situation about which you must answer two questions as follows. Anxiety Questions (how anxious or fearful you feel) 0 = none 1 = mild 2 = moderate 3 = severe Avoidance Questions (how often you avoid the situation) 0 = never 1 = occasionally 2 = often 3 = severe 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 the past week. Below are some sample situations from the questionnaire: Using a telephone in publicParticipating in a small group activityEating in public This is just a brief list, and the LSAS covers many other types of situations that are known to commonly trigger social anxiety performance anxiety and concerns. Information Provided by the LSAS The LSAS is scored by summing the item ratings. Below are the suggested interpretations for various score ranges. 55–65: Moderate social phobia65–80: Marked social phobia80–95: Severe social phobiaGreater than 95: Very severe social phobia As with any self-report instrument, scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale need to be interpreted by a qualified mental health professional and followed up with a full diagnostic interview for social anxiety disorder (SAD) when warranted. Accuracy Studies have shown the LSAS to be an effective and cost-efficient way to identify people with problems with social anxiety. However, a single instrument can't be used to make a diagnosis. A clinical diagnosis of SAD can only be made based on an interview conducted by a trained mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker. How to Take the Scale Yourself Did you know that the LSAS is freely available for 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. 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. Understanding the Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder A Word From Verywell 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. 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. If you or a loved one are struggling with social anxiety, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 1 Source Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to 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/M20-0580 Additional Reading Baker SL, Heinrichs N, Kim H-J, Hofmann SG. The Liebowitz social anxiety scale as a self-report instrument: a preliminary psychometric analysis. Behavior Research and Therapy. 2000:40(6);701-715. doi:10.1016/s0005-796728012900060-2 Rytwinski NK, Fresco DM, Heimberg RG, et al. Screening for social anxiety disorder with the self-report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Depression and Anxiety. 2009;26(1):34-8. doi:10.1002/da.20503 By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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