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Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS)

Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) Test

Understand how strongly you react to everyday body sensations and whether they spark worry in about 2 minutes. This 10 item screen supports clearer next steps for care, from stress support to medical follow-up.

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Questions: 102 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

24,633 views

1,999 completions

1,674 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

26/50

Somatosensory Amplification (SA)

Assesses the tendency to perceive and interpret ordinary bodily sensations as unusually intense, unpleasant, or distressing.

Low amplification

Moderate amplification

High amplification

10 – 23: Low amplification | 24 – 36: Moderate amplification | 37 – 50: High amplification

A score of 26 falls in the Moderate amplification range, suggesting a noticeable but not pronounced tendency to experience normal bodily sensations as more intense or concerning.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Health-anxious symptom watchers

42%OF USERS

People who often worry that normal sensations (heartbeat, tingling, fatigue) signal a serious illness and seek reassurance.

Anxiety and panic sufferers

35%OF USERS

Those with anxiety, panic attacks, or high stress who notice body sensations quickly and interpret them as danger.

Therapy and clinic clients

23%OF USERS

Clients in counseling or medical care who want a quick, structured way to understand how strongly they amplify bodily discomfort.

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.

Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS)

Average

37.8

Normal range

30.9 — 44.7

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 measures the tendency to perceive ordinary bodily sensations as intense, unpleasant, or concerning. It focuses on amplification of physical signals rather than medical symptom severity.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects typical experience over time, not a single unusual day. Answer based on the usual frequency or intensity described by each item.

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

Completion time is about 2 minutes. The questionnaire contains 10 items.

Is this a diagnostic tool for medical or psychiatric conditions?

It is a screening measure of a psychological trait and does not provide a diagnosis. Results should be interpreted alongside clinical evaluation and, when indicated, medical assessment.

How are results typically used?

Scores support identification of elevated focus on bodily sensations and related distress. The results can inform treatment planning and the need for further assessment.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

hypochondria somatics

This brief self-report measure assesses the tendency to perceive normal bodily sensations as intense, distressing, or disruptive. The Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) is commonly used to characterize individual differences in attention to and interpretation of somatic cues.

Developed by Arthur J. Barsky and Gordon J. G. Wyshak, it consists of 10 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. Responses can help inform clinical formulation when somatic preoccupation or health-related anxiety is a concern, and may support treatment planning and differential considerations.

Scores from the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) are interpreted as indicating the degree of amplified perception of bodily sensations; they are not, by themselves, diagnostic and should be considered alongside clinical interview findings and other relevant measures.

Author: Arthur J. Barsky, Gordon J. G. Wyshak

Literature: Pennebaker, J. W. The psychology of physical symptoms. Springer. 1982.; Nakao, M., & Barsky, A. J. Clinical application of somatosensory amplification in psychosomatic medicine. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. 2007.

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