GAD-7
Screens for generalized anxiety, measures symptom severity over time, and demonstrates good sensitivity for panic, social anxiety, and PTSD.
Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by this problem?
About the GAD-7
Validated 7-item instrument for screening and measuring the severity of generalized anxiety disorder.
Scoring Methodology & Interpretation
The GAD-7 uses a validated sum algorithm with predefined clinical cutoffs established in peer-reviewed derivation and validation cohorts:
| Score Range | Severity Classification | Clinical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | Minimal Anxiety Symptoms | Scores 0–4 reflect absence of significant anxiety symptoms. |
| 5 – 9 | Mild Anxiety Symptoms | Scores 5–9 indicate mild anxiety symptoms. |
| 10 – 14 | Moderate Anxiety Symptoms | Score 10 is the clinical cutoff (89% sensitivity, 82% specificity for GAD). |
| 15 – 21 | Severe Anxiety Symptoms | Scores 15–21 indicate severe anxiety symptoms. |
Clinical Pearls & Considerations
- Score ≥ 10 identifies probable GAD; further evaluation is recommended to identify panic disorder or social phobia.
Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B.W. Williams and Bernd Löwe. Pfizer makes GAD-7 available without a formal permission request, subject to its published terms of use.
This instrument is designed for educational, informational, and clinical reference purposes. Screening scores do not constitute a definitive medical diagnosis. Individual clinical management must integrate full diagnostic history, physical examination, and laboratory data by a licensed healthcare professional.
- Self-administered tool indicating symptom frequency; cannot establish an official psychiatric diagnosis.
- Somatic anxiety symptoms should be differentiated from endocrine, cardiac, or substance-induced states.
Evidence & Primary Literature Citations
- Key Validation StudyA brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7.Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1092-1097.