One of the most common mental disorders in the entire world is those related to anxiety. For this reason, its evaluation has become the object of study of many specialists.
And it seems that as time progresses, so does anxiety as part of the current dynamic of life, which has resulted in various mental health problems, even affecting physical health.
There are currently various scales and instruments to evaluate the presence and levels of anxiety in people.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS)
One of the most used clinical instruments to evaluate anxiety is, without a doubt, the Hamilton scale, which consists of 14 items that are scored from 0 to 4 depending on the intensity with which the patient experiences the symptoms.
Despite having been designed in 1959, it remains today one of the most reliable tests to determine anxiety levels and how it is experienced. By 1969, Hamilton made an improvement to the test, making a distinction regarding the somatic symptoms of anxiety, dividing them into sensory and somatic.
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For Hamilton, it was important to understand how the patient experiences anxiety in order to carry out an assertive therapeutic approach to their treatment. Always keeping in mind that people do not experience anxiety in the same way as others, but that each case is particular.
Inventory of Anxiety Situations and Responses (ISRA)
Developed in 1986 by Antonio Cano Vindel and Juan José Miguel Tobal, both professors at the Complutense University of Madrid, this scale consists of various situations that can trigger anxiety levels along with responses related to the symptoms experienced.
Anxiety is evaluated taking into account the cognitive aspects (that is, thoughts), the physical aspects (symptoms related to anxiety such as tachycardia, sweating, etc.) and the behavioral (and motor) aspects. Although it is a test that was carried out for the population aged 16 and older, this test has adaptations for other ages, and is also available in more than 12 languages.
It is a very effective test for the evaluation of anxiety that has proven to be reliable in determining the presence of related disorders. During its application, it has been proven that individuals with and without anxiety-related problems obtain different scores, even those with other underlying pathologies.
State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire (STAI)
Published in 2002 by RL Gorsuch, RE Lushene and Charles Spielberger, this questionnaire evaluates anxiety from two points of view: as a trait and as a state, through 40 items strategically designed for this purpose.
This test has the advantage of offering information not only about the level of anxiety experienced, but also the type, understanding that anxiety as a state is something transitory that is experienced for a certain time, while when talking about trait It refers to something more stable and permanent.
The test went through various revisions and improvements, until a definitive version was reached in 2011, which has proven to be very efficient in measuring anxiety levels. This has resulted in STAI becoming one of the most reliable tests for mental health specialists.
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Developed in 1988, this test was created by Aaron Beck and consists of 21 questions, formulated with the purpose of assessing the somatic symptoms that are related to anxiety that are present in the person.
It is designed to evaluate adults and adolescents and each item consists of 4 options for its score ranging from 0 to refer to the complete absence of the symptom to 3 which refers to a very strong level of intensity.
It evaluates 4 important aspects to determine not only the level of anxiety but also the way in which it is experienced, through a subjective, neurophysiological assessment, at the level of the autonomic system and panic levels.
Zung Anxiety Self-Assessment Scale Inventory (SAA)
Created in 1965 by William Zung, his anxiety self-assessment scale is an instrument designed to estimate and identify the levels of anxiety present in the person evaluated, as well as the intensity with which the related symptoms are experienced.
In 2001, Luis Astocondor adapted the test for its applicability in adolescents and adults, which is still frequently used today. It is a test that has 20 premises presented in the form of stories or reports in which situations and symptoms related to anxiety are found.
It is carried out in very simple and easy-to-understand language so that the test is accessible to all people. Each statement has 4 options to select from that indicate the frequency or intensity with which the person identifies with what is reported in the items.
Aspects to consider
It is important to keep in mind that many of these tests (not all) are available on the web, so anyone can access them and apply them relatively easily and without having any training in this regard. However, the diagnosis of some type of disorder can be made solely and exclusively by a mental health professional.
The assessment tests serve as a kind of guide to know what is happening with the patient, what they feel and experience, but they do not constitute in any way a definitive diagnosis.
An evaluation by a trained professional (psychologist or psychiatrist) is required to be certain of the presence of some type of disorder. If you have experienced high levels of anxiety and this is an issue that concerns you, please seek help from people who are knowledgeable on the subject.
Bibliographic references:
- Buela-Casal, G. and Sierra, JC (1997). Manual of psychological evaluation. Ed. XXI century. Madrid.
- Cohen, R.J. & Swerdlik, M.E. (2002). Psychological tests and evaluation. McGraw-Hill: Madrid.