Been feeling jittery, on edge, or like something bad might happen? 21-item Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) measures the physical side of anxiety — heart pounding, trembling, shortness of breath — over the past week. Takes 5-10 minutes.

When anxiety shows up in your body

Anxiety isn't just in your head — it has physical symptoms too. Racing heart, trembling, dizziness, and nausea are all common manifestations of anxiety.

The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) focuses specifically on the somatic (physical) symptoms of anxiety. It asks about 21 common physical sensations over the past week, each rated on a 0–3 scale.

What the scores mean

  • 0–7: Minimal anxiety
  • 8–15: Mild anxiety
  • 16–25: Moderate anxiety
  • 26–63: Severe anxiety

About this scale

Aaron Beck and colleagues developed the BAI in 1988. Unlike some anxiety measures that overlap heavily with depression scales, the BAI was designed to be relatively independent of depression symptoms.

  • Internal consistency: α = 0.92
  • Test-retest reliability: r = 0.75
  • Completion time: 5–10 minutes
The BAI covers three dimensions: subjective fear, somatic symptoms, and panic-related symptoms. It's particularly useful for assessing anxiety in medical settings where physical symptoms may be prominent.

Result Interpretation

After completing the 21 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:

  • Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
  • Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
  • Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available

All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.