Cyberchondria Severity Scale, CSS-12 Test - the question form
Questions: 12 · 3 minutes
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1. If something unusual happened with my body, I tried to find an explanation for it on the Internet.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
2. Searching for information about symptoms distracted me from reading news, sports, or entertainment articles online.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
3. I consulted a wide range of online sources to look up information about the same symptom.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
4. I panicked if the way I felt matched the symptoms of a serious or rare illness.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
5. Looking up symptoms on the Internet often prompted me to see a general practitioner.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
6. I usually revisited the same online sources several times to better understand my health condition.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
7. Searching for information about symptoms interfered with my ability to concentrate on work (e.g., writing business emails or reviewing documents).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
8. I felt fine until I read about serious illnesses on the Internet.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
9. After searching the Internet for information about symptoms, I felt noticeably nervous and upset.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
10. Searching for information about symptoms interfered with my social activities (e.g., it took time away from being with family or close friends).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
11. I asked healthcare professionals to order diagnostic tests for me that I read about on the Internet (e.g., a specific blood test).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
12. After reading information about symptoms on the Internet, I felt the urge to see a specialist doctor (e.g., a neurologist, cardiologist, etc.).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
1. If something unusual was happening with my body, I tried to find an explanation for it on the Internet.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
2. Searching for information about symptoms distracted me from reading news, sports, or entertainment articles online.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
3. To find information about the same symptom, I used many different Internet sources.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
4. I panicked if my condition seemed to match a symptom of a serious or rare illness.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
5. Looking up symptoms on the Internet often led me to consult a primary care doctor (general practitioner).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
6. I usually visited the same Internet sources several times to better understand my condition.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
7. Searching for information about symptoms interfered with my ability to concentrate on work (e.g., writing emails or reviewing documents).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
8. I felt completely fine until I read about serious illnesses on the Internet.
1 – Never (not once)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
9. After looking up symptom information on the Internet, I felt noticeably nervous and upset.
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
10. Searching for information about symptoms interfered with my social activities (e.g., it took time I could have spent with family and close friends).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
11. I asked healthcare professionals to order diagnostic tests for me that I had read about on the Internet (e.g., a specific blood test).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)
12. After reading about symptoms on the Internet, I felt the urge to consult a medical specialist (e.g., a neurologist, cardiologist, etc.).
1 – Never (not at all)
2 – Rarely (once or twice a week)
3 – Sometimes (several times a week)
4 – Often (every day)
5 – Always (several times a day)