Whiteley Index (WI-8) Test

Understand how much you worry about your health in just 2 minutes. Eight quick items flag health anxiety and guide next steps for support or further evaluation.

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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

28,146 views

2,113 completions

1,732 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

6/40

Whiteley Index (WI)

Measures the severity of health anxiety and hypochondriacal concerns such as preoccupation with symptoms and fear of illness.

Low

Clinically significant

0 – 18: Low | 19 – 40: Clinically significant

A score of 6 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively few hypochondriacal concerns at the time of assessment.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Frequent health worriers

44%OF USERS

People who often fear they might be ill, notice symptoms quickly, and seek reassurance repeatedly.

Therapy and counseling clients

33%OF USERS

People in psychological support who want to understand whether health anxiety is contributing to stress, panic, or somatic complaints.

Clinicians doing quick screening

23%OF USERS

Medical or mental health professionals using a brief check to decide if deeper assessment or referral for health anxiety is needed.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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

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Used in 52+ countries

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See How You Compare

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.

Whitley Index (WI)

Average

29.4

Normal range

24.4 — 34.5

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 for the level of health-related worry and preoccupation with illness. It focuses on concerns about symptoms and repeated checking or reassurance seeking.

How long does it take to complete?

Most respondents complete it in about 2 minutes. It includes 8 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects how often each thought or concern has occurred recently. Answer based on typical experiences rather than rare events.

How are the results interpreted?

Higher scores indicate greater health anxiety and a stronger tendency to misinterpret bodily sensations. Results are used for screening and do not provide a medical diagnosis.

When is follow-up recommended?

Follow-up is recommended when scores are elevated or when health worries cause distress or interfere with daily functioning. Additional clinical assessment may be needed to clarify contributing factors.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Whiteley Index (WI-8) Test - Symptoms and Signs

hypochondria uneasiness

This brief self-report measure is used to screen for health-related anxiety and preoccupation with illness. The Whiteley Index (WI-8) assesses current concerns about bodily symptoms, worry about having a serious disease, and reassurance-seeking tendencies.

Developed by Brian A. Sharpe and Isaac M. Marks, it includes 8 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. The Whiteley Index (WI-8) is commonly used in clinical and counseling settings to support initial assessment and to inform whether more comprehensive evaluation may be warranted; it is not a standalone diagnostic instrument.

Author: Brian A. Sharpe, Isaac M. Marks

Literature: Salkovskis, P. M., Rimes, K. A., Warwick, H. M. C., & Clark, D. M. The health anxiety inventory: Development and validation of scales for the measurement of health anxiety and hypochondriasis. Psychological Medicine. 2002.; Pilowsky, I. Dimensions of hypochondriasis. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1967.

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