SPIN (Social Phobia)

Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

A 17-item self-report for screening social anxiety disorder. Rate each item based on how you have felt over the past week.

I am afraid of people in authority.

I am bothered by blushing in front of people.

Parties and social events scare me.

I avoid talking to people I don't know.

Being criticized scares me a lot.

I avoid doing things or speaking to people for fear of embarrassment.

Sweating in front of people causes me distress.

I avoid going to parties.

I avoid activities in which I am the center of attention.

Talking to strangers scares me.

I avoid having to give speeches.

I would do anything to avoid being criticized.

Heart palpitations bother me when I am around people.

I am afraid of doing things when people might be watching.

Being embarrassed or looking stupid are among my worst fears.

I avoid speaking to any one in authority.

Trembling or shaking in front of others is distressing to me.

Connor KM, et al. (2000)

Guidelines & Evidence

Clinical Details

Section 1

When to Use

Clinical Utility

Short, 17-item self-report for screening Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).

Distinguishing between people with and without social phobia.

Measuring the severity of social phophobia symptoms across fear, avoidance, and physiological arousal domains.

Evaluating treatment response in clinical trials or private practice.

Section 2

Formula & Logic

Scoring Logic

Each of the 17 items is rated on a 5-point scale (0 = not at all, to 4 = extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 68.

Severity Thresholds

Score < 20	None / Minimal
Score 21–30	Mild Social Phobia
Score 31–40	Moderate Social Phobia
Score 41–50	Severe Social Phobia
Score > 50	Very Severe Social Phobia

Section 3

Pearls/Pitfalls

The Diagnostic Cutoff

A total score of 19 is generally considered the optimal cutoff point for separating social phobia from other conditions or healthy controls.

Clinical Pearls

SPIN is particularly good at capturing the "Physiological Arousal" (blushing, sweating, trembling) that some other scales miss.

Wait for at least 4 weeks of treatment before re-administering to see meaningful change.

Always screen for Social Phobia in patients presenting with chronic alcohol use, as SAD is the most common comorbid anxiety disorder with AUD.

Section 4

Next Steps

Treatment Thresholds

Score 0–19: Low suspicion for clinical SAD. If distress is high, clinical judgment prevails.

Score 20–30: Suggests mild symptoms. Consider "Watchful Waiting" or self-help resources.

Score > 30: Clinically significant social phobia. Evidence-based treatment (CBT or Pharmacotherapy) should be initiated.

Score > 50: Very severe burden. Intensive treatment and frequent monitoring for functional impairment (work/social) are recommended.

Section 5

Evidence Appraisal

Primary Reference

Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

Connor KM et al. • The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2000;Vol 176. pp. 379-386. The definitive study establishing the validity and reliability of the SPIN.

Section 6

Literature

Duke University

Developed by Jonathan Davidson and colleagues at Duke University Medical Center. It was created to provide a simpler, self-administered alternative to the clinician-administered LSAS.

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026

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