Anxiety Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms and Diagnosis Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) A Self-Rated Tool for Assessing Social Anxiety By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 24, 2024 Reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by mental health professionals. 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 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 Review Board Print Tetra Images / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Test Administration Questions What Your Score Means How Accurate Are the Results? Where to Take the Test Diagnosing Social Anxiety Social Anxiety Treatments Trending Videos Close this video player 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. At a Glance If you think you might have social anxiety disorder (SAD), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale can help evaluate your symptoms. The questions on the assessment identify a wide variety of social situations and then ask you to rate the degree of fear and avoidance you experience for each situation. The test is a quick, cost-effective way to accurately determine whether a person might have a problem with social anxiety. You can take the LSAS online for free, but only a doctor or mental health professional can diagnose social anxiety disorder. If you believe you have SAD, talk to your doctor or therapist to learn more about your treatment options. How the LSAS Is Administered The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale assesses both your social anxiety in situations as well as your avoidance of those situations. In this way, each item on the LSAS describes a situation in which you must answer the following questions. 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. Questions on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Below are some sample situations from the questionnaire: Using a telephone in publicParticipating in a small group activityEating in publicTalking to a person in authorityBeing observed while workingMeeting people you don't knowSpeaking during a meetingMaking eye contact with people you don't know wellGiving a speech This is just a brief list, and the LSAS covers many other types of situations that are commonly known to trigger social anxiety performance anxiety and concerns. Situations that can commonly lead to social anxiety symptoms include interacting with strangers, making phone calls, and encountering unfamiliar social settings. What Your LSAS Score Means The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale 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 of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Studies have shown the LSAS to be an effective and cost-efficient way to identify people with problems with social anxiety. Research indicates that the scale is reliable and valid for measuring global social anxiety. Another study concluded that the LSAS measures the same trait in the same way across all expressions of social anxiety symptoms. The researchers concluded that the scale is a good tool for assessing, screening, and researching 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. Taking the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Your doctor or therapist may administer the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, but you should also 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. Your results may point to social anxiety, but it is essential to talk to a doctor or mental health professional to evaluate your symptoms and rule out other potential causes. 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. Other Social Anxiety Assessments Other self-report social anxiety measures include the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). Understanding the Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder Diagnosing Social Anxiety 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. Treatments That Can Help Social Anxiety 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. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Social anxiety disorder is often treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach focused on helping people change the underlying thoughts and behaviors that contribute to social fear and avoidance. Exposure Therapy Exposure therapy can also help people learn to manage social situations. In this approach, people practice being exposed to the social situations they fear, either in real life or by imagining the situation. Over time and with more exposure, feelings of fear begin to diminish. Medications Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and Effexor (venlafaxine) are FDA-approved to treat social anxiety disorder. Other medications may also be prescribed off-label, including other SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, beta-blockers, and benzodiazepines. 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. Social Anxiety Disorder Treatments 6 Sources 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 Caballo VE, Salazar IC, Arias V, Hofmann SG, Curtiss J. 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Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD001206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub3 By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit