What SHAI score indicates health anxiety?

On the 14-item short scale (range 0–42), a total of around 18 or more is commonly used to flag clinically significant health anxiety. The threshold varies between studies, so treat it as a guideline rather than a strict cut-off.

Is health anxiety the same as hypochondria?

Health anxiety is the modern term for what used to be called hypochondria — persistent worry that you have, or will develop, a serious illness despite reassurance. It's recognised, common, and treatable, often with cognitive behavioural therapy.

Esprit

Test d'anxiété liée à la santé (SHAI)

Un inventaire court d'anxiété liée à la santé en 14 items qui évalue à quel point la peur de la maladie vous affecte.

~4 minDurée

Short Health Anxiety Inventory (Salkovskis 2002)Méthode

GratuitCoût

Avant de commencer

1Answer for the past week — Choose the statement that best matches the last seven days.
2Pick the closest fit — If more than one statement applies, choose the strongest one that's true for you.

14 questions

4′

Short Health Anxiety Inventory (Salkovskis 2002)

Ce que ça mesure

How much worry you have about your health, using the 14-item main section of the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). It looks at preoccupation with illness, attention to bodily sensations, difficulty being reassured, and the belief that you may be seriously ill.

Comment ça marche

Each of the 14 items gives four statements; you pick the one that best fits how you've felt over the past week, scored 0 to 3. The answers sum to a 0–42 score. A total around 18 or higher is commonly used to flag clinically significant health anxiety, though the exact cut-off varies between studies.

Conseils pour un résultat fiable

1Health worry exists on a spectrum — Some attention to your body is healthy. The question is whether worry, checking, or reassurance-seeking is taking over.
2Reassurance can backfire — Repeated checking and seeking reassurance often relieve anxiety briefly but strengthen it over time.
3CBT works well — Cognitive behavioural therapy for health anxiety has strong evidence. A GP can point you toward it.

Fiabilité et limites

The SHAI is a validated research and screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis. The commonly cited cut-off of around 18 on the 14-item scale is a guideline, not a fixed rule — thresholds in the literature range from roughly 15 to 20 depending on the population. Use your score to understand your worry and to start a conversation with a clinician, who can make any diagnosis.

Références et lectures complémentaires

L'Institute of Doctors propose des outils de dépistage éducatifs et des conseils par IA. Ils ne constituent pas un diagnostic médical et ne remplacent jamais un professionnel de santé qualifié. En cas de problème de santé, consultez un médecin.

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