Introduction
The Short Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) is a psychological assessment tool designed to evaluate health anxiety levels in individuals. Health anxiety, previously known as hypochondriasis, is characterized by excessive worry about having a serious illness despite medical reassurance to the contrary. This inventory comprises 18 items that measure the severity of health anxiety based on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral domains. Developed to provide clinicians and researchers with a reliable and valid measure of health anxiety, the HAI-18 facilitates the identification of individuals who may require further psychological intervention or support. Each item on the inventory is rated on a scale, reflecting the frequency and intensity of health-related worries and behaviors over the past six months.

The development of the HAI-18 was motivated by the need for a concise yet comprehensive tool that could be efficiently used in both clinical settings and research studies. Prior to its development, assessments of health anxiety were often lengthy and not always practical for busy healthcare environments or large-scale surveys. The HAI-18 addresses this issue by offering a brief assessment that does not compromise on depth or breadth of inquiry into health anxiety symptoms. It covers a range of symptoms including worry about illness, awareness of bodily sensations, and behaviors such as checking for signs of illness. This breadth ensures that the HAI-18 captures a wide spectrum of health anxiety manifestations, making it applicable to diverse populations and settings.

Research supporting the HAI-18 underscores its reliability and validity as a measure of health anxiety. Studies have shown that the inventory has strong psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and construct validity. It has been validated in various populations, demonstrating its utility across different age groups, cultures, and healthcare settings. The HAI-18’s sensitivity to change also makes it valuable for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing health anxiety. By providing a standardized method for assessing health anxiety, the HAI-18 plays a crucial role in the detection and understanding of this condition, aiding in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies and contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Instructions
Each of the following questions consists of a group of four statements. Please read each group of statements carefully and then select the one which best describes how you have felt over the past six months. If you find that more than one statement applies, please select any of the applicable statements.

I notice aches/pains less than most other people (of my age).

I notice aches/pains as much as most other people (of my age).

I notice aches/pains more than most other people (of my age).

I am aware of aches/pains in my body all the time.

As a rule I am not aware of bodily sensations or changes.

Sometimes I am aware of bodily sensations or changes.

I am often aware of bodily sensations or changes.

I am constantly aware of bodily sensations or changes.

Resisting thoughts of illness is never a problem.

Most of the time I can resist thoughts of illness.

I try to resist thoughts of illness but am often unable to do so.

Thoughts of illness are so strong that I no longer even try to resist them.

As a rule I am not afraid that I have a serious illness.

I am sometimes afraid that I have a serious illness.

I am often afraid that I have a serious illness.

I am always afraid that I have a serious illness.

I do not have images (mental pictures) of myself being ill.

I occasionally have images of myself being ill.

I frequently have images of myself being ill.

I constantly have images of myself being ill.

I do not have any difficulty taking my mind off thoughts about my health.

I sometimes have difficulty taking my mind off thoughts about my health.

I often have difficulty in taking my mind off thoughts about my health.

Nothing can take my mind off thoughts about my health.

I am lastingly relieved if my doctor tells me there is nothing wrong.

I am initially relieved but the worries sometimes return later.

I am initially relieved but the worries always return later.

I am not relieved if my doctor tells me there is nothing wrong.

If I hear about an illness I never think I have it myself.

If I hear about an illness I sometimes think I have it myself.

If I hear about an illness I often think I have it myself.

If I hear about an illness I always think I have it myself.

If I have a bodily sensation or change I rarely wonder what it means.

If I have a bodily sensation or change I often wonder what it means.

If I have a bodily sensation or change I always wonder what it means.

If I have a bodily sensation or change I must know what it means.

I usually feel at very low risk for developing a serious illness.

I usually feel at fairly low risk for developing a serious illness.

I usually feel at moderate risk for developing a serious illness.

I usually feel at high risk for developing a serious illness.

If I notice an unexplained bodily sensation I don’t find it difficult to think about other things.

If I notice an unexplained bodily sensation I sometimes find it difficult to think about other things.

If I notice an unexplained bodily sensation I often find it difficult to think about other things.

If I notice an unexplained bodily sensation I always find it difficult to think about other things.

My family/friends would say I do not worry enough about my health.

My family/friends would say I have a normal attitude to my health.

My family/friends would say I worry too much about my health.

My family/friends would say I am a hypochondriac.

If I had a serious illness I would still be able to enjoy things in my life quite a lot.

If I had a serious illness I would still be able to enjoy things in my life a little.

If I had a serious illness I would be almost completely unable to enjoy things in my life.

If I had a serious illness I would be completely unable to enjoy life at all.

If I developed a serious illness there is a good chance that modern medicine would be able to cure me.

If I developed a serious illness there is a moderate chance that modern medicine would be able to cure me.

If I developed a serious illness there is a very small chance that modern medicine would be able to cure me.

If I developed a serious illness there is no chance that modern medicine would be able to cure me.

A serious illness would ruin some aspects of my life.

A serious illness would ruin many aspects of my life.

A serious illness would ruin almost every aspect of my life.

A serious illness would ruin every aspect of my life.

If I had a serious illness I would not feel that I had lost my dignity.

If I had a serious illness I would feel that I had lost a little of my dignity.

If I had a serious illness I would feel that I had lost quite a lot of my dignity.

If I had a serious illness I would feel that I had totally lost my dignity.

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