Cognitive-Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire
A 33-item scale that assesses the cognitive (17 items) and somatic (16 items) symptoms of anxiety through separate channels.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- You respond: You mark your habits around searching for health information online.
- A profile emerges: Search frequency, distress and reassurance-seeking are separated out.
- It is interpreted: The result is considered in the context of health anxiety.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the CSAQ measure?
The scale brings to light the cycle in which searching for symptoms brings short-term relief but feeds anxiety in the long run. The duration and repetition of searching, together with the emotional aftermath that follows, are evaluated as a whole.
High results indicate that online searching is actively fuelling the anxiety cycle. Setting limits on this behaviour can help to slow the cycle down.
How is it scored?
Items are rated on a scale and summed. The total score falls into low, moderate or high cyberchondria ranges.
- Items
- 33
- Score range
- 0–132
- 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 |
|---|---|
| 0–39 | Minimal anxiety symptoms |
| 40–79 | Moderate level |
| 80–132 | High anxiety symptoms |
Limitation: It measures a behavioural pattern; a scale never makes a diagnosis on its own. In people who seek health information as part of their profession, a high score does not always mean there is a problem.
Psychometrics and source
Developed by McElroy and Shevlin (2014); it is the most widely used measure of the cyberchondria construct.
Original source: Bilişsel-somatik anksiyete ayrımı (Schwartz, Davidson & Goleman, 1978) temelli form.
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, when working with health anxiety, this scale is used to address online-search habits and to track change over the course of the work. Your results are recorded in your client portal, whether sessions take place online or in person.
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.