GAD-7
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale
The standard self-report measure of generalised anxiety severity.
7
2 min
adult
0–21
About the GAD-7
The Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is a brief self-report measure of anxiety severity. Although developed to identify generalised anxiety disorder, it is also sensitive to panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which makes it a practical general anxiety screen.
Respondents rate how often they have been bothered by seven anxiety symptoms over the previous two weeks, from "not at all" (0) to "nearly every day" (3), giving a total of 0 to 21. Cut-points of 5, 10, and 15 represent mild, moderate, and severe anxiety.
The GAD-7 is free to use, takes about two minutes, and pairs naturally with the PHQ-9 for combined depression-and-anxiety monitoring.
What it measures
- Excessive worry and inability to control worrying
- Nervousness, restlessness, and feeling on edge
- Irritability and difficulty relaxing
- Apprehension that something awful might happen
GAD-7 questions
- 1
Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
- 2
Not being able to stop or control worrying
- 3
Worrying too much about different things
- 4
Trouble relaxing
- 5
Being so restless that it is hard to sit still
- 6
Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
- 7
Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.
Scoring & interpretation
| Range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal | Minimal anxiety |
| 5–9 | Mild | Mild anxiety — watchful waiting; repeat at follow-up. |
| 10–14 | Moderate | Moderate anxiety — possible clinically significant; further evaluation and treatment plan indicated. |
| 15–21 | Severe | Severe anxiety — likely diagnosis of GAD; active treatment with psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy is warranted. |
Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Clinical applications
- Screening and severity measurement for generalised anxiety disorder
- Broad screening for panic, social anxiety, and PTSD symptoms
- Tracking response to therapy or medication in measurement-based care
Validation & psychometrics
In the validation study (Spitzer et al., 2006), a cut-point of 10 yielded a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% for generalised anxiety disorder. The GAD-7 has strong internal consistency and good test–retest reliability, and increasing scores are associated with worsening functional impairment.
Strengths & considerations
- A positive GAD-7 indicates probable anxiety, not a specific diagnosis — confirm clinically.
- It is sensitive across several anxiety disorders, so a high score may reflect panic, social, or trauma-related anxiety.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal GAD-7 score?
Scores of 0–4 indicate minimal anxiety. 5–9 is mild, 10–14 moderate, and 15–21 severe anxiety.
What GAD-7 score indicates anxiety disorder?
A score of 10 or higher is the standard threshold for probable generalised anxiety disorder, with about 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity.
Is the GAD-7 free?
Yes. The GAD-7 is freely available for clinical, research, and educational use without a licence fee.
Source & references
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