Anxiety Sensitivity Index
Measures the fear of one's own anxiety symptoms. It is sensitive for panic disorder and phobias.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- You respond: You mark your beliefs about physical anxiety sensations.
- A profile is produced: The physical, cognitive and social anxiety dimensions separate out.
- It is interpreted: High sensitivity is read in the context of panic experiences.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the ASI measure?
The scale looks at three areas separately: physical concerns (thinking a racing heart means a heart problem), cognitive concerns (fear of losing control) and social concerns (worry that symptoms will be noticed). In this way, the way you react to anxiety is mapped.
High results point to bodily sensations being interpreted in a catastrophic way. This is a pattern that can change when it is worked on with a cognitive behavioural approach.
How is it scored?
Items are scored on a rating scale and summed; they can also be read across three subscales. Low, moderate and high sensitivity ranges are defined.
- Items
- 16
- Score range
- 0–64
- Administration
- Self / observer report
What do the score bands mean?
The ranges below are a general frame. No band makes a diagnosis on its own; a result only becomes meaningful when a clinical psychologist interprets it alongside your life story.
| Score | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–19 | Low sensitivity |
| 20–29 | Moderate sensitivity |
| 30–64 | High sensitivity (clinical) |
Limitation: It measures not the current severity of anxiety but the tendency to fear anxiety; a low score does not rule out an active anxiety picture. A scale never makes a diagnosis on its own.
Psychometrics and source
Developed by Reiss, Peterson, Gursky and McNally (1986), it is the most widely used measure of the anxiety sensitivity construct and has a Turkish form.
Original source: Peterson, R.A. & Reiss, S. (1992). ASI.
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, during panic-focused support this scale is used to understand the meaning attached to bodily sensations and to track change over the process. Results are kept and followed in your personal portal, whether you are seen online or in person, and are interpreted together with your clinical psychologist.
Related reading
Did your result give you pause?
A scale is only a starting point. By planning an assessment session with our clinical psychologists, you can consider your result alongside the context of your life.