Psychological Stress Index Test

A brief yes/no checklist for rough estimation of recent stress burden.

Think about the past month or any ongoing symptoms, and answer yes or no for each item. Higher scores suggest greater stress burden.

Stress Self-Assessment Items

1. I feel dizzy or lightheaded more easily than before.

2. My eyes become tired more easily than before, or my vision becomes blurred.

3. I sometimes have nasal congestion or an unusual feeling in my nose.

4. I often feel dizzy, lightheaded, or unsteady when standing up.

5. I sometimes have tinnitus, which I did not have before.

6. I am more prone than before to symptoms of excessive internal heat, such as mouth ulcers or acne.

7. I often have a sore or dry throat.

8. I often catch colds, they are difficult to recover from, and I feel that my resistance has declined.

9. I often have a white coating on my tongue, which I did not have before.

10. My food preferences have gradually changed.

11. I feel that food remains undigested in my stomach, and I often feel discomfort in my stomach.

12. Abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, and alternating diarrhea and constipation occur more often.

13. I often feel pain or stiffness in my shoulders, neck, back, or lower back.

14. I become tired more easily than before, and the fatigue is difficult to relieve.

15. I have lost weight and have no appetite, or conversely, I have episodes of overeating.

16. I feel tired or irritable immediately after doing even a small amount of work.

17. I still feel low in energy when I wake up in the morning, as if I have not had enough sleep.

18. I feel physically ill, but no cause can be found on examination.

19. I lack motivation for work and cannot concentrate.

20. Compared with before, I have difficulty falling asleep at night.

21. I often have dreams, which I did not have before.

22. I often wake up in the middle of the night and then have difficulty falling asleep again.

23. I sometimes suddenly feel short of breath, as if I am lacking oxygen or about to die.

24. I sometimes have palpitations, which I did not have before.

25. I sometimes feel chest tightness or pain, as if my chest is being constricted.

26. I easily become angry over minor matters and feel irritable or restless.

27. I easily take out my anger on close family members or friends.

28. My hands and feet often feel cold, which rarely happened before.

29. I sweat easily, especially on my palms and underarms.

30. I cannot laugh at things that other people find funny.

31. I do not really want to interact with others and would rather stay at home alone.

Please complete all required fields first.

Important Notice

This resource is intended for educational purposes only and is intended for US healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should use independent medical judgment. All decisions regarding patient care must be handled by a healthcare professional and be made based on the unique needs of each patient.