BAI: A 21-item inventory specifically designed to measure clinical anxiety with minimal overlap with depressive symptoms.
Inventory List (0/21)
1. Numbness or tingling
2. Feeling hot
3. Wobbliness in legs
4. Unable to relax
5. Fear of worst happening
6. Dizzy or lightheaded
7. Heart pounding/racing
8. Unsteady
9. Terrified or afraid
10. Nervous
11. Feeling of choking
12. Hands trembling
13. Shaky / unsteady
14. Fear of losing control
15. Difficulty in breathing
16. Fear of dying
17. Scared
18. Indigestion
19. Faint / lightheaded
20. Face flushed
21. Hot/cold sweats
Complete all 21 items to view the clinical severity interpretation.
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Assessment of the severity of self-reported anxiety in adults and adolescents
Differential diagnosis to distinguish anxiety from depression
Monitoring treatment progress for anxiety disorders in clinical settings
Screening for panic symptoms and physical anxiety manifestations
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scoring Logic
The BAI consists of 21 items, each describing a physical or cognitive symptom of anxiety. Each item is rated from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Severely). Total score ranges from 0 to 63.
Interpretation
0–7 points
Minimal anxiety
8–15 points
Mild anxiety
16–25 points
Moderate anxiety
26–63 points
Severe anxiety
Section 3
Evidence Appraisal
Validation
An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties.
Beck AT et al. • J Consult Clin Psychol.. 1988;56(6):893-7. Primary validation showing high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability.
