Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale

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The Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was designed by William W. K. Zung M.D, (1929-1992) a professor of Psychiatry from Duke University, to quantify a patient's level of anxiety.[1] [2]

The SAS is a 20-item self-report assessment device built to measure anxiety levels, based on scoring in 4 groups of manifestations: cognitive, autonomic, motor and central nervous system symptoms. Answering the statements a person should indicate how much each statement applies to him or her within a period of one or two weeks prior to taking the test. Each question is scored on a Likert-type scale of 1-4 (based on these replies: "a little of the time," "some of the time," "good part of the time," "most of the time"). Some questions are negatively worded to avoid the problem of set response. Overall assessment is done by total score.

The total raw scores range from 20-80. The raw score then needs to be converted to an "Anxiety Index" score using the chart on the paper version of the test that can be found on the link below. The "Anxiety Index" score can then be used on this scale below to determine the clinical interpretation of one's level of anxiety:

  • 20-44 Normal Range
  • 45-59 Mild to Moderate Anxiety Levels
  • 60-74 Marked to Severe Anxiety Levels
  • 75-80 Extreme Anxiety Levels

See also

External links

References

  1. Zung WWK. A rating instrument for anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics. 1971; 12(6): 371-379 PMID 5172928
  2. Zung WW. The measurement of affects: depression and anxiety. Mod Probl Pharmacopsychiatry. 1974;7(0):170-88. PMID 4153516