Generalised Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7)
What it is
The GAD-7 is a quick and straightforward questionnaire designed to identify symptoms of anxiety. It’s based on the criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder as outlined in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). This self-assessment asks people to reflect on their anxiety levels over the past two weeks. It’s a reliable tool that helps clinicians understand how their patients are feeling in just a few minutes.
How is it used
The GAD-7 can be used with both adolescents and adults, starting from around age 10. It’s quick to complete—usually taking only about two minutes—making it a convenient tool in clinical settings or even during busy therapy sessions. The questionnaire asks individuals to think back over the last two weeks and rate how often they’ve experienced various anxiety symptoms. Because of its simplicity, it’s great not only for an initial screening but also for tracking changes in anxiety levels over the course of therapy.
What do the scores mean?
The GAD-7 consists of seven questions, each rated on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). After answering, the scores are summed up to get a total between 0 and 21. Higher scores indicate more intense anxiety symptoms, with scores categorized into four levels: • A total score between 0 and 4 suggests little to no anxiety. • Scores from 5 to 9 indicate mild anxiety, where symptoms may be noticeable but not necessarily disruptive. • A range of 10 to 14 reflects moderate anxiety, which could benefit from therapeutic intervention. • Finally, scores of 15 or above point to severe anxiety, suggesting that focused clinical attention may be needed.
Research has found that a score of 10 or higher is a reliable threshold for identifying clinically significant anxiety. This means it’s a useful tool for deciding whether to explore anxiety management strategies or deeper therapeutic interventions.
What does the research say?
The GAD-7 is highly regarded in the mental health field because it’s been thoroughly researched and validated. It’s known for being reliable, which means that if a person’s anxiety hasn’t changed, their scores will stay consistent even if they take the questionnaire again. The tool’s accuracy is impressive, with studies showing that it effectively identifies generalized anxiety disorder with a high level of sensitivity and specificity. But the GAD-7 isn’t just for diagnosing anxiety. It’s also incredibly helpful for tracking progress in therapy. Clinicians can use it to see how their patients’ anxiety levels shift over time, helping them adjust treatment plans as needed.
Developer
Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Archives of internal medicine, 166(10), 1092-1097.
References
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, et al; Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Ann Intern Med. 2007:146(5):317-25.
Löwe, B., Decker, O., Müller, S., Brähler, E., Schellberg, D., Herzog, W., & Herzberg, P. Y. (2008). Validation and standardization of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in the general population. Medical care, 46(3), 266