Introduction to the Scale

The Anxiety Test Scale — Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) online test. SAS was developed by Professor Zung in 1971. In terms of both its structural design and specific assessment methods, it is very similar to the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). It is a fairly simple clinical tool for analyzing patients' subjective symptoms. Since anxiety is one of the more common emotional disorders seen in psychological counseling clinics, SAS has become a commonly used scale for assessing anxiety symptoms in recent years.

Note: The cutoff score for the standard SAS is 50 points. As the scale is only an auxiliary screening tool, the test results should be used for reference only.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

I. Psychological Symptoms

1. Excessive worry: Repeatedly ruminating over minor daily matters (such as work, health, social interactions) and finding it hard to control. Often accompanied by "catastrophic thinking" (assuming the worst possible outcome).
2. Tension and restlessness: A persistent feeling of mental strain, inability to relax, and even irritability over small issues.
3. Sense of fear: Fear without obvious cause, or strong avoidance behaviors toward specific situations (e.g., crowds, heights), seen in panic disorder, social anxiety, etc.
4. Difficulty concentrating: Reduced memory and efficiency due to excessive worrying.

II. Physical Symptoms

1. Cardiovascular system: Palpitations, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness or pain (often mistaken for heart disease).
2. Respiratory system: Shortness of breath, sensation of suffocation, or hyperventilation (may lead to tingling in hands and feet).
3. Nervous system: Dizziness, headaches, trembling, or limb weakness.
4. Digestive system: Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, or abnormal appetite (overeating / loss of appetite).
5. Other physical reactions: Sweating, hot flashes or chills; muscle stiffness; sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or waking up early).

III. Typical Manifestations of Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

IV. Differences Between Anxiety Disorders and Normal Anxiety

• Duration: Symptoms of anxiety disorders persist for months and cannot be relieved through self-regulation.
• Impact level: Clearly interferes with work, study, or interpersonal relationships.
• No clear trigger: Symptoms may be disproportionate to actual stressors.

V. When to Seek Medical Help?

If any of the following occur, it is recommended to seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible:

1. Symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks and self-regulation is ineffective;
2. Occurrence of suicidal thoughts or self-harming behavior;
3. Accompanied by depressive symptoms (e.g., loss of interest, prolonged low mood).

✅ Who Is Suitable for Using SAS?

1. Ordinary adults (age 16+): Suitable for adults experiencing anxiety or stress who want a preliminary understanding of their anxiety levels. Commonly used for mental health screening among working professionals, students, etc.
2. People with mild to moderate anxiety symptoms: For quantitative assessment of long-term tension, worry, insomnia, etc. Note: SAS cannot diagnose anxiety disorders; it serves only as a supplementary reference.
3. Initial screening in psychological counseling: Psychologists or psychiatrists may use it as a preliminary assessment tool to help determine whether further professional evaluation (e.g., HAMA clinician-rated scale) is needed.
4. Research or population surveys: Used for epidemiological studies, mental health surveys, and other group-level assessments of anxiety levels.

❌ Who Is Not Suitable for Using SAS?

1. Patients with severe mental disorders: Such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder in manic phase, severe depression with psychotic features, etc., where impaired cognitive function may lead to distorted results.
2. Minors (under 16): SAS items and scoring criteria are based on adult psychological characteristics. Children/teenagers should use specialized scales (e.g., Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, SCARED).
3. Individuals with cognitive impairments: Patients with dementia, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, etc., may not accurately understand the questions.
4. During acute anxiety attacks: Panic disorder patients may be too fearful to complete a calm self-assessment during an episode; medical attention should be prioritized over self-testing.
5. Limited education level: The scale requires basic reading comprehension skills (primary school level or above); otherwise, responses may be inaccurate.

⚠️ Usage Notes

1. Results are for reference only: SAS cannot replace clinical diagnosis; high scores require further evaluation by a professional doctor.
2. Avoid overinterpretation: Occasional anxiety is a normal reaction; caution is needed only when symptoms persist (e.g., over 2 weeks) and affect daily life.
3. Dynamic observation: It is advisable to repeat the test at intervals of 1–2 weeks to avoid bias from a single result.