[Sensory Inventory (SI): self-assessment of sensory sensitivity for adults and adolescents]

An adequate perception of the environment is one of the main foundations of adaptive behavior. Furthermore, sensory sensitivity varies from person to person and can play a central role in the development and course of mental disorders. The objective was the development of a questionnaire for the multidimensional assessment of sensory sensitivity. A total of 1417 persons were evaluated with the Sensory Inventory (SI). The factorial validity was tested with exploratory factor analyses and exploratory structural equation modeling. A 6-factorial structure was established. High internal consistency and retest reliability were shown, as well as increased sensory sensitivity and lower body perception in participants with mental disorders. The SI is a short instrument with good test characteristics that can easily be integrated in a clinical or research environment.