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Children's Somatic Symptom Inventory (CSSI-8)

Children's Somatic Symptom Inventory (CSSI-8) Test

Understand a child’s physical symptom burden in just 2 minutes, including pain, fatigue, and stomach issues. Quick to score and easy to repeat for screening groups or tracking therapy progress.

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Questions: 82 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

18,751 view

1,477 completions

1,209 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

15/32

Somatization (S)

Assesses the overall severity of self-reported somatic symptoms in children and adolescents.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 10: Low | 11 – 21: Moderate | 22 – 32: High

A score of 15 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not high level of somatic symptom severity.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Children with frequent aches

44%OF USERS

Kids who often report headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, or other physical complaints that may be linked to stress or emotions.

Students in school screening

33%OF USERS

Children and adolescents taking a quick check-in at school or in group settings to spot elevated somatic symptoms early.

Teens in ongoing therapy

23%OF USERS

Adolescents using brief self-reports during counseling or treatment to track changes in physical symptoms over time.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Somatization Scale (SS)

Average

15.2

Normal range

10.6 — 19.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens the severity of common physical complaints that may be related to somatic symptom patterns. It summarizes symptom burden across eight areas.

Who is it intended for?

It is designed for children and adolescents who can read and respond to brief self-report items. It may be used in school, clinical, or counseling settings.

How long does it take to complete?

Most respondents finish in about 2 minutes. It includes 8 items.

How should responses be completed?

Items should be answered based on how much each symptom has bothered the respondent over the stated time frame. Responses should reflect the respondent’s own experience rather than a parent’s or teacher’s view.

How are results used?

Scores provide a quick indicator of overall symptom severity and highlight which symptoms are most prominent. Results support screening and progress monitoring but do not establish a medical or psychiatric diagnosis on their own.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Children's Somatic Symptom Inventory (CSSI-8) Test - Symptoms and Signs

somatics

Somatic complaints can be difficult to quantify efficiently in pediatric settings, particularly when physical symptoms may be intertwined with emotional or behavioral concerns. The Children's Somatic Symptom Inventory (CSSI-8) is a brief self-report measure designed to assess the severity of common somatic symptoms in children and adolescents.

The instrument includes 8 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Respondents rate the extent of recent symptom experiences, supporting a structured summary of overall symptom burden and identifying areas that may warrant further clinical inquiry. Keefe and Barsky are cited as authors of the measure.

The Children's Somatic Symptom Inventory (CSSI-8) may be used as a screening tool and to monitor changes in symptom reporting over time as part of broader assessment, treatment planning, or outcome tracking. Results should be interpreted in clinical context and, when indicated, integrated with medical evaluation and additional psychological assessment.

Author: Arthur J. Barsky, Francis J. Keefe

Literature: Walker, L. S., Beck, J. E., Garber, J., & Lambert, W. (2009). Children’s Somatization Inventory: Psychometric properties of the revised form (CSI-24). Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2009.; Stone, A. L., Walker, L. S., Heathcote, L. C., Hernandez, J. M., Basch, M. C., Wilson, A. C., & Simons, L. E. Somatic symptoms in pediatric patients with chronic pain: Proposed clinical reference points for the Children’s Somatic Symptom Inventory (formerly Children’s Somatization Inventory). Journal of Pain. 2019.

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