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Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI)

Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) Test

In 7 minutes, gauge health-related worry and avoidance patterns. Use results to spot clinically meaningful health anxiety, track change over time, and guide care planning.

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Questions: 377 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

17874 views

1718 completions

1503 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

46/72

Reassurance Seeking (RS)

Measures how often a person seeks reassurance or confirmation that they do not have an illness or health risk.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 8: Low | 9 – 22: Moderate | 23 – 72: High

A score of 46 falls in the High range, suggesting frequent reassurance-seeking to reduce health-related concerns.

example score

54/80

Avoidant Behavior (AB)

Measures the extent to which a person avoids situations or activities due to perceived health threats.

Low avoidance

Moderate avoidance

High avoidance

0 – 8: Low avoidance | 9 – 27: Moderate avoidance | 28 – 80: High avoidance

A score of 54 falls in the High avoidance range, suggesting a pronounced tendency to use avoidance strategies in response to perceived health risks.

example score

4/12

Negative Consequences Block (NCB)

Assesses how strongly a person worries about potential negative consequences or complications of illness.

Low concern

Moderate concern

High concern

0 – 2: Low concern | 3 – 6: Moderate concern | 7 – 12: High concern

A score of 4 falls in the Moderate concern range, suggesting a noticeable but not pervasive focus on possible negative health outcomes.

example score

35/42

Core Block (CB)

Assesses the overall intensity of health-related anxiety, including worries about illness and a tendency to amplify bodily symptoms.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 4: Low | 5 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 42: High

A score of 35 falls in the High range, suggesting pronounced and frequent health-related worry and heightened attention to symptoms.

example score

48/54

Total Score (TS)

Measures overall intensity of health-related worry and associated preoccupation with bodily symptoms.

Low

Typical

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 19: Typical | 20 – 54: High

A score of 48 falls in the High range, indicating very pronounced health-related worry and frequent preoccupation with health concerns.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People with frequent symptoms

41%OF USERS

They often notice bodily sensations and want to understand whether worry is driving repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance.

Patients with chronic illness

34%OF USERS

They live with a real medical condition and want to see how much health-related fear is adding extra stress beyond the illness itself.

Parents of anxious teens

25%OF USERS

They suspect their 9–17-year-old worries excessively about health and want a clearer picture of the intensity and patterns of that anxiety.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Search for Affirmations (SfA)

Average

21.1

Normal range

9.8 — 32.4

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Avoidant Behavior (AB)

Average

47.2

Normal range

35.9 — 58.4

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Block of Negative Consequences (BoNC)

Average

3.2

Normal range

1.5 — 5

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Main block (Mb)

Average

21.1

Normal range

15 — 27.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Total score (Ts)

Average

39.6

Normal range

32.7 — 46.6

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the frequency and intensity of worry about health and related safety-seeking or avoidant behavior. It also reflects how these concerns affect daily functioning.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is used with adults in clinical and nonclinical settings, including people with physical medical conditions. A separate version is available for children and adolescents ages 9–17.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 7 minutes. The standard form includes 37 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches typical thoughts and behaviors, not a single unusual event. If uncertain, choose the closest option rather than leaving an item blank.

How are results used in practice?

Scores support screening, treatment planning, and monitoring change over time. Results should be interpreted alongside clinical interview and relevant medical information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) Questionnaire Test

Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) Test

hypochondria uneasiness

This self-report measure is designed to assess health-related anxiety and associated cognitive and behavioral features. The Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) can be used to support screening and clinical case formulation in medical and mental health contexts.

It consists of 37 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Items ask respondents to select statements that best reflect their recent health-related worries and responses, supporting quantification of symptom severity and monitoring over time.

Developed by S. Salkovskis and P. M. McCracken, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) is generally interpreted alongside clinical interview findings and other relevant assessment data.

Author: P. M. McCracken, S. Salkovskis

Literature: Abramowitz, J. S., Olatunji, B. O., & Deacon, B. J. Health anxiety, hypochondriasis, and the anxiety disorders. Behavior Therapy. 2007.; Taylor, S., & Asmundson, G. J. G. Treating health anxiety: A cognitive-behavioral approach. Guilford Press. 2004.; Salkovskis, P. M., Rimes, K. A., Warwick, H. M., & Clark, D. M. The health anxiety inventory: Development and validation of scales for the measurement of health anxiety and hypochondriasis. Psychological Medicine. 2002.

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