What Is the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3)?
The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), first introduced by Reiss et al. in 1986, has undergone several revisions. The third version—ASI-3—is now the internationally standard form. It is a self-report measure that assesses the fear of anxiety-related sensations, or what psychologists call "the fear of fear."
To understand ASI-3's unique value, distinguish two concepts: anxiety frequency (how often you feel anxious) and anxiety sensitivity (how afraid you are of those anxious feelings). Two people with identical racing hearts before a speech may interpret it very differently—one as normal nervousness, the other as a sign of impending heart failure. This catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations is the core of anxiety sensitivity.
The ASI-3 contains 18 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = very little, 4 = very much), yielding a total score from 0 to 72. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety sensitivity. Administration takes approximately 3-5 minutes.
Theoretical Foundation
The concept of anxiety sensitivity was systematized by Reiss (1991) in his Expectancy Theory, which posits that fear is not only driven by external stimuli but also by individuals' expectations of harm from their own internal sensations. Anxiety sensitivity is the specific form of this "expected harm from sensations."
The theory identifies three core fear expectancies: 1. Physical harm expectancy—belief that bodily sensations of anxiety signal imminent catastrophe (heart attack, fainting, suffocation) 2. Social evaluation expectancy—concern that visible anxiety symptoms will be negatively judged by others 3. Mental incapacitation expectancy—fear that anxiety means losing control of one's mind ("I'm going crazy")
Taylor et al. (2007) validated the cross-cultural stability of these three dimensions across large multinational samples and developed the ASI-3 accordingly. The scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties, with Cronbach's α ranging from 0.84 to 0.91 across studies. Anxiety sensitivity has been established as a vulnerability factor for multiple anxiety disorders—not merely a symptom, but a mechanism that amplifies ordinary anxiety into clinical conditions.
The Three Dimensions
ASI-3 items are evenly distributed across three dimensions (6 items each):
1. Physical Concerns—fear of bodily sensations such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or dizziness. High scorers continuously monitor their body for subtle changes. Strongly linked to panic disorder.
2. Cognitive Concerns—fear of cognitive sensations including difficulty concentrating, mind going blank, or mental confusion. High scorers worry that anxiety will damage their mental functioning. Associated with generalized anxiety disorder and depression.
3. Social Concerns—fear of publicly visible anxiety symptoms. The core worry is social consequence rather than the sensation itself. Most closely linked to social anxiety disorder.
Interpreting Scores
Scores can be analyzed per dimension or summed. Clinical reference cutoffs vary by study; scores ≥17 suggest moderate and ≥27 suggest high anxiety sensitivity. These are not diagnostic thresholds.
Applications
- Clinical assessment—screening for panic disorder, differentiating anxiety subtypes, monitoring treatment progress
- Research—studying anxiety etiology, cross-cultural comparisons, evaluating CBT mechanisms
- Self-exploration—understanding personal anxiety response patterns, identifying overlooked triggers, informing help-seeking decisions
Free Test
Take the free ASI-3 self-assessment on CheckPsych.com:
18 items, 3-5 minutes, no registration required. Results include dimension scores and brief interpretation.
References
- Reiss, S., Peterson, R. A., Gursky, D. M., & McNally, R. J. (1986). Anxiety sensitivity, anxiety frequency and the prediction of fearfulness. *Behaviour Research and Therapy*, 24(1), 1-8.
- Reiss, S. (1991). Expectancy model of fear, anxiety, and panic. *Clinical Psychology Review*, 11(2), 141-153.
- Taylor, S., Zvolensky, M. J., Cox, B. J., Deacon, B., Heimberg, R. G., Ledley, D. R., et al. (2007). Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: Development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3. *Psychological Assessment*, 19(2), 176-188.