GAD-7 Anxiety Screener
Take the validated GAD-7 anxiety screener (Spitzer 2006). Seven items, two-week window, scored 0–21 with severity bands. Public domain instrument.
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What the GAD-7 measures
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) was developed by Spitzer and colleagues in 2006 and published in Archives of Internal Medicine. It asks how often, over the last two weeks, you’ve been bothered by seven symptoms commonly seen in generalized anxiety disorder — from feeling nervous or on edge to becoming easily annoyed and feeling afraid as if something awful might happen.
Each item is scored 0–3 (not at all → nearly every day) for a total of 0–21.
Severity bands
| Score | Severity | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal anxiety | Self-monitor; reassess if symptoms persist |
| 5–9 | Mild anxiety | Watchful waiting; consider repeating in 2–4 weeks |
| 10–14 | Moderate anxiety | Consider clinical conversation |
| 15–21 | Severe anxiety | Active treatment strongly recommended |
A cutoff score of 10 or higher is widely used to flag possible GAD warranting further evaluation. The instrument also performs reasonably well as a generic screener for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, although specialized instruments (PHQ-PD, SPIN, PCL-5) are preferred for those.
Why this is a public-domain tool
The GAD-7 was developed with funding from Pfizer, which formally waived copyright. Anyone may use, reproduce, translate, display, or distribute the instrument without permission. The same applies to PHQ-9, PHQ-2 and PHQ-15. This means the screener you take here is the identical instrument used in NHS, ACOG, AAFP and primary-care settings worldwide.
Limitations
- The two-week window misses chronic patterns that don’t show up in short bursts.
- Cultural and linguistic factors affect symptom expression — validated translations exist for many languages, but translation quality varies.
- A high score does not equal a diagnosis — only a clinical assessment can do that.
- A low score does not rule out anxiety; if your daily functioning is impaired, please talk to a clinician regardless of what the screener says.
Privacy
All calculation happens in your browser. We never see, log, or store your answers. Anonymous, aggregate events (the severity bucket reached) are sent to a privacy-first analytics service.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a clinical diagnosis?
No. The GAD-7 is a validated screening instrument, not a diagnostic test. A score of 10 or higher is the recommended cutoff for further evaluation by a clinician — but the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder requires a structured clinical interview that considers duration of symptoms (DSM-5 requires at least six months), functional impairment, and rule-out of other conditions.
Why a two-week window?
GAD-7 asks about symptoms over the last two weeks because brief mood and anxiety fluctuations are common — the two-week window captures sustained patterns rather than a transient bad day. The same window is used by PHQ-9 for depression, allowing both instruments to be administered together.
What do the scores mean?
0–4 minimal anxiety, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–21 severe. The threshold for considering further evaluation is 10. Higher scores correlate with greater functional impairment and stronger likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria, but this is a screening instrument — interpretation should always happen in context with a healthcare professional.
What does a GAD-7 score of 10 mean?
A score of 10 sits at the bottom of the moderate band (10–14) and is the widely cited cutoff for further evaluation. The Plummer 2016 meta-analysis (12 studies, Gen Hosp Psychiatry) found this threshold has about 89% sensitivity for generalized anxiety disorder after full clinical interview. Of 100 people with a score of 10, roughly 30 to 50 meet formal criteria once a clinician sits down with them. The reasonable next step is a conversation with a primary-care provider or therapist.
What does a GAD-7 score of 15 mean?
A score of 15 sits in the severe band (15–21). NICE CG113 recommends active treatment at this level: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), pharmacotherapy (SSRI/SNRI), or both. Untreated generalized anxiety tends to persist for an average of 4 to 7 years (NIMH). The first appointment is typically with a primary-care provider, who can refer to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
At what GAD-7 score should I worry?
The clinically meaningful cutoff is 10. Below that (5–9) most guidelines suggest watchful waiting and a repeat in 2 to 4 weeks. From 10 onwards Spitzer 2006 and NICE CG113 recommend a clinical conversation. From 15 onwards — active treatment. A high score is not a verdict about your character or a personal failure; it is a measurement of how much anxiety is affecting daily function.
GAD-7 score 12 — should I see a doctor?
Yes, this is a sensible point to talk to someone. A score of 12 sits in the moderate band (10–14), where NICE CG113 recommends psychological help and clinical assessment. It does not mean diagnosis or medication right away — the first step is a conversation with a primary-care provider or therapist about how long the symptoms have lasted and how they are affecting sleep, work, and relationships. A 12 means the symptoms have run for most days over the last two weeks.
GAD-7 vs PHQ-9 — what's the difference?
GAD-7 measures generalized anxiety (7 items, 0 to 21). PHQ-9 measures depression (9 items, 0 to 27). Both ask about the past two weeks and are often given together because roughly half of people with one disorder meet criteria for the other within 12 months. When a high GAD-7 score doesn't quite fit (less worry, more flat mood and loss of energy), PHQ-9 sometimes clarifies what is actually going on.
GAD-7 vs SPIN — when do I use which?
GAD-7 measures general worry across topics. SPIN (Social Phobia Inventory, 17 items) measures specific fear of judgment, avoidance of social situations, and physical symptoms in those situations. If you avoid presentations, conversations with strangers, or eating in public — and feel fine outside those settings — SPIN or LSAS is the more accurate instrument. DSM-5 treats GAD and social anxiety disorder as separate diagnoses.
Is the GAD-7 valid for teenagers?
Yes, for ages 11 and up when the wording is understood. Mossman 2017 (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol) validated the instrument in 12–17-year-olds with 89% sensitivity and 81% specificity at the cutoff of 10. The teen brain has a faster-maturing amygdala and a slower-maturing prefrontal cortex (Casey 2008), so higher scores than in adults reflect biology, not weakness. Related reading: [Test anxiety vs anxiety disorder](/articles/test-anxiety-vs-anxiety-disorder/).
How often should I retake GAD-7?
During active treatment, clinicians typically retake the GAD-7 every 2 to 4 weeks to track response. Outside of treatment, it makes sense to retake after meaningful life changes (exam season, a move, a bereavement, a new job) or once 6 to 12 months have passed since the last assessment. Daily retaking is noise — normal day-to-day mood swings drown out the signal.
Can I have an anxiety disorder with a low GAD-7 score?
Yes, occasionally. The GAD-7 specifically measures generalized anxiety with about 89% sensitivity at the 10 cutoff (Plummer 2016). A low score does not rule out other anxiety disorders: social phobia (SPIN, LSAS), panic disorder (PDSS), OCD (OCI-R), PTSD (PCL-5). If your daily functioning is impaired even with a GAD-7 below 10, describe the symptoms to a clinician — they will pick the more appropriate instrument.
Test anxiety vs anxiety disorder — when does it cross the line?
Test anxiety peaks 10 to 30 minutes before an exam and fades within hours after it ends. An anxiety disorder is a state, not an event — it runs for most days over at least two weeks and reaches beyond school into sleep, food, and friendships. GAD-7 captures that background hum. If a score of 10 or higher holds up even in weeks without exams, the pattern fits a disorder rather than situational nerves. More in [Test anxiety vs anxiety disorder](/articles/test-anxiety-vs-anxiety-disorder/).
Does my data leave my device?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. We do not transmit, store, or log your answers (you can verify in developer tools — no XHR or fetch calls during the test). Anonymous usage events (e.g. severity bucket reached) are sent to a privacy-first analytics service — no personally identifiable information is collected.
Sources
- A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7 — Archives of Internal Medicine (Spitzer et al., 2006) (peer reviewed, retrieved 2026-04-27)
- Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults — NICE CG113 — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (guideline, retrieved 2026-04-27)
- PHQ and GAD-7 instructions and scoring — Pfizer (public domain — copyright waived) (guideline, retrieved 2026-04-27)