GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)
Anxiety severity over the last 2 weeks
Sources last checked: 2026-10-13
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)
Anxiety severity over the last 2 weeks
Validated mainly for generalised anxiety disorder; it also picks up panic, social anxiety and PTSD less reliably. A screen, not a diagnosis.
Interpretation
| 0–4 — minimal | Minimal anxiety symptoms. |
|---|---|
| 5–9 — mild | Mild anxiety symptoms. |
| 10–14 — moderate | ≥ 10 is the published cut-off for probable generalised anxiety disorder (sensitivity 89 %, specificity 82 %); a screen, not a diagnosis. |
| 15–21 — severe | Severe anxiety symptoms. |
What is the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)?
The GAD-7 is a seven-item self-report scale for generalised anxiety disorder. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams and Löwe derived it in 2006 in 2,740 US primary-care patients; scores of 5, 10 and 15 mark mild, moderate and severe anxiety, and 10 or more identified GAD with 89 % sensitivity and 82 % specificity.
When to use it
- Screening for generalised anxiety disorder in primary care
- Grading anxiety severity before treatment
- Monitoring response to treatment over time
When not to use it
- As a diagnosis of a specific anxiety disorder
- For acute panic or agitation, where a clinical assessment is needed directly
How it is calculated
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 2. Not being able to stop or control worrying | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 3. Worrying too much about different things | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 4. Trouble relaxing | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 5. Being so restless that it is hard to sit still | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 6. Becoming easily annoyed or irritable | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
| 7. Feeling afraid, as if something awful might happen | |
| Not at all | 0 |
| Several days | 1 |
| More than half the days | 2 |
| Nearly every day | 3 |
Clinical pearls and limitations
- Validated mainly for generalised anxiety disorder; it also picks up panic, social anxiety and PTSD less reliably. A screen, not a diagnosis.
- German general-population norms exist (Löwe 2008): only about 5 % score 10 or more.
- Meta-analysis suggests cut-offs from 7 to 10 perform similarly; lower cut-offs increase sensitivity.
- Anxiety and depression often co-exist — pair it with the PHQ-9.
Frequently asked questions
What GAD-7 score means anxiety disorder?
A score of 10 or more is the usual cut-off for probable generalised anxiety disorder. 5–9 is mild, 10–14 moderate and 15–21 severe.
Is the GAD-7 free?
Yes. Like the PHQ, it can be reproduced and translated without permission.
Does the GAD-7 detect panic disorder?
Partly. It was built for GAD; panic disorder, social anxiety and PTSD are detected with lower accuracy.
Evidence and guidelines
- Primary source: Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med 2006;166(10):1092-1097.
- Löwe B et al. Validation and standardization of the GAD-7 in the general population (German normative data). Med Care 2008;46(3):266-274.
- Plummer F et al. Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2016;39:24-31.
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