Description:
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a 21-item
scale that measures the severity of self-reported anxiety
in adults and adolescents. It consists of descriptive statements
of anxiety symptoms which are rated on a 4-point scale with
the following correspondence: “Not at all” (0
points); “Mildly; it did not bother me much” (1);
“Moderately; it was very unpleasant, but I could stand
it” (2); and “Severely; I could barely stand it”
(3).
Uses of Information: The Beck Anxiety Inventory was specifically
designed to reduce the overlap between depression and anxiety
scales by measuring anxiety symptoms shared minimally with
those of depression.
Reliability: (1) Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha)
ranged from .92 to .94 for adults. The alphas for the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition—Revised
(DSM-III-R) anxiety disorder groups ranged from .85 to .93.
(2) Test-retest reliability (1-week interval): .75. Reliability
of the BAI for adolescents has not been directly tested.
Validity: (1) Concurrent validity:
the correlation with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale—Revised
was .51. The correlation with the anxiety subscale of the
Cognition Check List, which measures the frequency of dysfunctional
cognitions related to anxiety, was also .51. The BAI is also
significantly correlated with the Trait (.58) and State (.47)
subscales of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) and
with the mean 7-day anxiety rating (.54) of the Weekly Record
of Anxiety and Depression. Validity of the BAI for adolescents
has not been directly tested.
Method of Scoring: The BAI total score is the sum of the
ratings for the 21 symptoms. Each symptom is rated on a 4-point
scale ranging from 0 to 3. The maximum score is 63 points.
The Beck Computer Scoring (BCS) program also scores and interprets
the BAI.
Interpretability: According to the 1993 Revisions of the
BAI manual, total scores of 0 to 7 reflect “Minimal
level of anxiety”; scores of 8 to 15 indicate “Mild
anxiety”; scores of 16 to 25 reflect “Moderate
anxiety”; and scores of 26 to 63 indicate “Severe
anxiety.” Because a BAI total score yields only an estimate
of the overall severity of anxiety being described by a person,
the clinician interpreting the score should consider other
aspects of the individual’s psychological functioning.
Training Support: None described.
Adaptations/Special Instructions for Individuals with Disabilities:
If an examinee needs help to complete the inventory, instructions
are given in the manual for how to administer the inventory
orally.
Report Preparation Support: None described. References:
Beck, Aaron T. and Robert A. Steer. Beck Anxiety Inventory
Manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation Harcourt
Brace & Company, 1993.
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