Anxiety Screener (GAD-7)

What this test measures

The Anxiety Screener (GAD-7) is a brief, self-administered questionnaire that assesses the severity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms over the past two weeks. It focuses on seven core signs like feeling nervous, uncontrollable worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritation, fear of something awful happening, and physical tension. It gives you a quick snapshot of how anxiety is affecting your daily life — not as a diagnosis, but as a starting point to understand your mental state.

How it works

You’ll answer 7 simple questions about how often you’ve been bothered by specific anxiety symptoms. Each question has four options: not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day. These are scored from 0 to 3, and your total score (0-21) is calculated instantly. There’s also one extra question asking how difficult these symptoms make it to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with others. No sign-up or personal data is required — just honest answers. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.

How to read your results

Your total score helps you see where you fall on the anxiety scale: 0–4 suggests minimal anxiety, 5–9 mild anxiety, 10–14 moderate anxiety, and 15–21 severe anxiety. The functional impairment question (how much symptoms interfere) adds context. Remember: this is not a medical diagnosis. It’s a screening tool to help you decide if you might benefit from speaking with a professional. If your score is 10 or higher, consider following up with a doctor or therapist.

Who it's for

This screener is for adults (18+) who are curious about their anxiety levels. It’s commonly used in primary care settings, but you can take it privately at home. It’s suitable if you’ve been feeling worried, tense, or on edge and want a clearer picture. It’s not designed for children or for people already in treatment for an anxiety disorder — though it can still offer insight. If you’re going through a particularly rough period, the results might be temporarily elevated; that’s normal.

The science behind it

The GAD-7 was developed by Dr. Robert L. Spitzer and colleagues (2006) as a reliable, valid screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. In validation studies, a cutoff score of 10 had sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for identifying GAD. It’s widely used in research and clinical practice worldwide, translated into many languages. The questionnaire aligns with DSM-5 criteria for GAD, making it evidence-based. However, it doesn’t capture all forms of anxiety (like panic disorder or phobias) — it’s specifically for generalized anxiety.

Sources

• Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: The GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097.
• Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., Monahan, P. O., & Löwe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: Prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annals of Internal Medicine, 146(5), 317–325.
• 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), 266–274.