Please consider reaching out to a mental health professional for personalized advice.
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire is a concise, self-report instrument that screens for generalized anxiety and quantifies its severity across diverse populations. Developed by mental-health researchers, the tool condenses core diagnostic criteria into seven items, enabling practitioners, educators, and individuals to detect anxiety patterns quickly in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Each item asks how often specific anxiety symptoms occurred during the preceding two weeks, using a four-point Likert scale from “Not at all” to “Nearly every day.” Summing item scores yields a total between 0 and 21, allowing you to classify anxiety as minimal, mild, moderate, or severe and to monitor changes over time.
Integrating the GAD-7 into your workflows supports evidence-based decision-making. Researchers obtain standardised data for epidemiological studies, clinicians track treatment outcomes, educators foster student well-being initiatives, and individuals gain personal insight before consulting professionals. Because the tool is free, validated, and quick to complete, it fits seamlessly within digital health platforms and paper-based screenings alike.
This section outlines structural features, scoring logic, and implementation specifics.
| Score Range | Severity | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | Minimal | General wellness advice |
| 5 – 9 | Mild | Self-help strategies |
| 10 – 14 | Moderate | Consider professional consultation |
| 15 – 21 | Severe | Prompt clinical evaluation |
The subsections below provide deeper methodological context.
The GAD-7 captures core anxiety symptoms: restlessness, uncontrollable worry, excessive concern, difficulty relaxing, agitation, irritability, and anticipatory fear. Each item aligns with DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
| Value | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not at all | No occurrence within last two weeks |
| 1 | Several days | Symptoms present on 1–6 days |
| 2 | More than half the days | Symptoms present on 7–11 days |
| 3 | Nearly every day | Symptoms present on 12–14 days |
Total score equals the sum of item values. Clinical studies suggest a cut-off of 10 optimises sensitivity (89 %) and specificity (82 %) for generalised anxiety disorder.
Total Score = ∑i=17 Itemi
Follow these steps to complete and interpret the assessment efficiently.
Answers to common questions appear below.
No. It is a screening instrument that indicates probability and severity; only qualified professionals can diagnose anxiety disorders.
Retake every two to four weeks when monitoring symptom trends or treatment progress, unless otherwise advised by a clinician.
Yes. Research supports its validity for adolescents aged 13 and above, though parental guidance is recommended.
Data storage depends on the host platform. This implementation calculates scores client-side; no information is transmitted by default.
A high score suggests significant anxiety. Contact a healthcare provider promptly for a comprehensive evaluation and support options.
Resolve frequent issues using the guidance below.
Leverage these professional practices to enhance your assessments.
Key terms appear below for quick reference.