About the GAD-7
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a brief, widely used self-report questionnaire developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Löwe (2006) to screen for and gauge the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms. It asks how often, over the past two weeks, you were bothered by 7 common anxiety symptoms, each rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The 7 item scores sum to a total between 0 and 21.
How the score is built
- Each of the 7 items — nervousness, uncontrollable worry, worrying too much, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and a sense of impending dread — is scored 0 to 3 based on frequency over the last 2 weeks.
- The 7 scores are added together for a total from 0 to 21; there is no separate weighting or normalization.
- An optional 8th question asks how difficult these symptoms have made work, home responsibilities, or getting along with others. It is not part of the numeric total but adds context about functional impact.
Putting the result in context
Standard bands are 0-4 minimal anxiety, 5-9 mild anxiety, 10-14 moderate anxiety, and 15-21 severe anxiety. A total of 10 or higher is the cutoff most often used to flag possible generalized anxiety disorder for further evaluation; in the original validation study this threshold had roughly 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity. A single score is a snapshot, not a diagnosis — trends over repeated administrations and the functional-impact question both add useful context.
When to consult a professional
The GAD-7 is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnostic instrument. Any score that concerns you, especially one at or above 10, or any thoughts of self-harm, should be discussed with a licensed healthcare provider or mental health professional who can evaluate your full clinical picture.