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. 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. 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.
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.
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. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
