Body Sensations Questionnaire
Measures the level of fear of body sensations associated with panic disorder.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- You respond: You mark your level of fear of different bodily sensations.
- The strongest stand out: The most feared sensations become clear.
- It is interpreted: The result is read in the context of the panic cycle.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the BSQ measure?
The questionnaire measures the fear response you give to bodily sensations. The cycle often seen in panic is this: a sensation is noticed, interpreted as dangerous, anxiety rises, and the sensation becomes even more pronounced. The scale helps you understand how active this cycle is.
High results point to sensations being interpreted in a catastrophic way. When these interpretations are worked on, the fear can ease.
How is it scored?
For each sensation the degree of fear is marked and summed. The total falls into low, moderate and high sensation-fear ranges.
- Items
- 17
- Score range
- 0–68
- 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 |
|---|---|
| 17–34 | Low fear |
| 35–51 | Moderate fear |
| 52–68 | High fear |
Limitation: It measures the fear of sensations; it does not measure the frequency of panic attacks or a diagnosis. If there is a physical condition, the distinction between realistic concern and catastrophising is made through a conversation with a specialist — a scale never makes a diagnosis on its own.
Psychometrics and source
Developed by Chambless and colleagues (1984) together with the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire; it is widely used in the assessment of panic and agoraphobia.
Original source: Chambless, D.L. et al. (1984). BSQ.
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, this scale is used to understand the meaning attached to bodily sensations and to track change in panic-focused work. Results are kept and followed in your personal portal for online and in-person clients alike, 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.