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Screening tools · Anxiety

GAD-7 Anxiety Screening.

A seven-item measure of anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. The score can help identify questions to discuss with a professional; it does not independently diagnose an anxiety disorder.

What this measure assesses

The GAD-7 asks about recent worry, nervousness, restlessness, irritability and related symptoms. It takes about two minutes.

Limits of the result

The GAD-7 does not explain why symptoms are present, consider every form of anxiety or replace assessment. A score should be understood with distress, functioning and context.

Questionnaire

GAD-7

Intended for: People age 14 and older; adolescent interpretation requires age-appropriate context

Timeframe: Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

Choose one response for each item.

Your answers and score are not sent to BrainLab.

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

0 of 7 answered

Score guide

Understanding this score

Use the score as one piece of information. A screening questionnaire cannot establish a diagnosis or rule out a condition.

Score guide for GAD-7

How scoring works

Seven items score from 0 to 3 and are added for a total from 0 to 21.

Published ranges or thresholds

Published bands are minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14) and severe (15–21). A score of 10 is a commonly used screening threshold in adults.

GAD-7 score bands
ScorePublished description
0–4Minimal
5–9Mild
10–14Moderate
15–21Severe

These ranges describe symptoms reported on the questionnaire. They do not establish a diagnosis.

What a higher score may indicate

Higher bands indicate more recent anxiety symptoms and may support a professional conversation.

What a lower score may indicate

A lower total does not rule out an anxiety disorder, episodic symptoms or another source of distress.

Evidence and limitations

The GAD-7 was validated in primary care and later studied in general-population and adolescent samples. A two-week self-report total cannot establish cause, diagnosis, duration or risk and may perform differently across settings and populations.

Screening vs assessment

A questionnaire is not a psychological assessment.

A questionnaire can help you notice patterns, but it does not diagnose, produce a psychological assessment report or replace professional evaluation. You do not need to complete one before requesting an assessment.

Compare screening and assessmentUse the Assessment Planner

When further support may be useful

Consider professional support if anxiety is persistent, escalating or interfering with sleep, work, school, relationships or daily life.

TherapyNurse Practitioner servicesPsychodiagnostic assessment

Frequently asked questions

What timeframe does the GAD-7 use?

It asks about the past two weeks.

What are the severity bands?

Published bands are minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14) and severe (15–21).

Can a low score rule out anxiety?

No. It does not cover every anxiety presentation and cannot replace professional judgment.

Source

Spitzer et al. — GAD-7 (opens in a new tab)

Attribution

Developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues.

References

Next step

Support can begin in more than one way.

View therapy, Nurse Practitioner care or psychodiagnostic assessment without treating the result as a diagnosis.

View TherapyView Nurse Practitioner CareLearn About Psychodiagnostic Assessment