ToolsCalculators
Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS)
Five-item screen for dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19.
Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS)
Felt dizzy, lightheaded, or faint when reading or listening to news about coronavirus
Had trouble falling or staying asleep because of thinking about coronavirus
Felt paralysed or frozen when thinking about or exposed to information about coronavirus
Lost interest in eating because of thinking about coronavirus
Felt nauseous or had stomach problems when thinking about or exposed to information about coronavirus
Result0/20
Score <9 does not suggest dysfunctional coronavirus-related anxiety on this screen.
- CAS score
- 0/20
When to use
- Screening for physiological/functional anxiety symptoms specifically related to coronavirus news or exposure.
Formula
Sum of 5 items rated 0-4 by frequency over the past 2 weeks. Range 0-20; a score of >=9 was proposed as indicating probable dysfunctional anxiety.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Assesses somatic/physiological anxiety responses (dizziness, sleep, freezing, appetite, GI symptoms) rather than worry or cognitive symptoms.
- Developed and validated early in the COVID-19 pandemic; interpret cut-offs with that context in mind.