Take the GAD-7 — the same assessment used by clinicians worldwide to screen for generalized anxiety disorder. Seven questions, honest answers, clear results.
Important: This is a screening tool based on the GAD-7, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorders.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
7 questions · Takes about 2 minutes
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is the gold standard screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. Developed by Drs. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Lowe in 2006, it's used by healthcare providers worldwide to quickly and accurately assess anxiety severity.
Each question asks how often you've been bothered by a specific anxiety symptom over the past two weeks. The seven symptoms — nervousness, uncontrollable worry, excessive worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and dread — capture the core experience of generalized anxiety.
This online version uses the exact same questions and scoring as the clinical instrument. What it can't provide is the clinical context, patient history, and professional judgment that a healthcare provider brings to the assessment. Use it as a starting point for understanding your anxiety, not as a final answer.
The GAD-7 has been validated in multiple large-scale studies with proven sensitivity and specificity for anxiety disorders.
Each symptom is rated 0-3 based on frequency over the past 2 weeks: not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day.
Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent established cutpoints for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety respectively.
The GAD-7 was validated in a landmark 2006 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study included 2,740 adult patients and found the GAD-7 to have excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and strong test-retest reliability.
At the standard cutoff score of 10, the GAD-7 has a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for generalized anxiety disorder. This means it correctly identifies the vast majority of people with GAD while minimizing false positives. These numbers make it one of the most reliable brief anxiety screening tools available.
While designed for generalized anxiety disorder, research shows the GAD-7 also has good sensitivity for detecting panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This makes it a useful general anxiety screening tool, though specific assessments exist for each condition.
The GAD-7 is now included in clinical guidelines from organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization. It has been translated into over 100 languages and validated across diverse populations.
This is a screening tool based on the GAD-7, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorders. If you're in crisis, contact 988.
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a clinically validated screening tool developed by Drs. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Lowe. It's used worldwide by healthcare providers to screen for generalized anxiety disorder.
Yes, these are the exact same 7 questions used in clinical settings. However, a professional assessment includes clinical context, history, and professional interpretation that this online tool cannot provide.
Minimal (0-4): Low anxiety, typical range. Mild (5-9): Some anxiety symptoms worth monitoring. Moderate (10-14): Significant anxiety that may benefit from professional support. Severe (15-21): High anxiety levels — professional evaluation is strongly recommended.
No. The GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional. This tool can help you understand your symptoms and decide whether to seek professional help.
Clinicians typically recommend reassessment every 2-4 weeks when monitoring anxiety. Taking it too frequently (daily) isn't useful because the questions ask about patterns over the past two weeks.
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