The GAD-7 is the 7-question clinical screener doctors use for generalized anxiety. Answer the questions below about the past two weeks and get your severity score with evidence-based recommendations — free, private, no signup.
Quick answer
The GAD-7 is scored 0 to 21. 0-4 is minimal anxiety, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe. The standard clinical cutoff for further evaluation is 10 (Spitzer et al., 2006).
Want to score yourself right now? Answer the questions below to see which band your total falls into.
Important: The GAD-7 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorders.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
7 questions · Takes about 2 minutes
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is the most widely used brief measure of generalized anxiety in both clinical practice and research. Developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B.W. Williams, and Bernd Lowe, it was first published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006.
The seven items assess the core symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder as defined by the DSM: nervousness, uncontrollable worry, excessive worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and a sense of dread. Each symptom is rated by frequency over the past two weeks, creating a snapshot of current anxiety severity.
This online version uses the identical questions and scoring algorithm as the clinical instrument. What it cannot replicate is the clinical judgment a healthcare provider applies when interpreting results — accounting for medical history, co-occurring conditions, medications, and life context. Use this as an informational starting point, not a clinical conclusion.
Seven items targeting the core DSM symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, each rated on a 0-3 frequency scale over the past 2 weeks.
Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent clinically established cutpoints for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety. The cutoff of 10 is the standard clinical threshold for further evaluation.
Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 (excellent internal consistency), 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity at the clinical cutoff, validated across multiple populations and languages.
The GAD-7 was validated in a study of 2,740 adult primary care patients published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2006). It demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 and strong test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.83).
At the recommended cutoff score of 10, the GAD-7 achieves 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for generalized anxiety disorder. This means it correctly identifies the vast majority of individuals with GAD while maintaining an acceptable false-positive rate. These psychometric properties make it one of the most reliable brief anxiety measures available.
While originally designed for generalized anxiety disorder, subsequent research has demonstrated the GAD-7's utility as a broader anxiety screener. Studies show acceptable sensitivity for panic disorder (74%), social anxiety disorder (72%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (66%), making it a practical first-line screening tool across anxiety subtypes.
The GAD-7 has been endorsed by major clinical organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization. It has been translated into more than 100 languages and validated across diverse populations, age groups, and healthcare settings worldwide.
The GAD-7 is one of several validated anxiety self-report instruments. The right pick depends on what you want to measure, how much time you have, and whether you need a diagnostic-strength tool or a brief screener. Here's how the GAD-7 compares to the most common alternatives.
| Instrument | Measures | Length | Range | Cutoff | Best for | Vs. this tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAD-7 | Generalized anxiety severity | 7 items | 0-21 | ≥10 (moderate) | Brief screening + symptom tracking; the most widely used anxiety instrument in primary care | This page. |
| GAD-2 | Generalized anxiety (ultra-brief) | 2 items | 0-6 | ≥3 (screen positive) | Ultra-brief initial screen — items 1-2 of the GAD-7, used when even 7 items is too many | Shorter version of the same instrument. Use GAD-2 to triage, GAD-7 to actually measure. |
| Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) | Anxiety severity (somatic focus) | 21 items | 0-63 | ≥16 (moderate) | Deeper assessment emphasizing physical/somatic anxiety symptoms (heart pounding, dizziness, etc.) | BAI is longer and weighted toward physical symptoms. Use BAI if your anxiety presents mostly somatically; use GAD-7 if it presents cognitively (worry, rumination). |
| Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) | Anxiety severity (clinician-administered) | 14 items | 0-56 | ≥18 (moderate) | Clinical research and trial outcomes — administered by a trained clinician, not self-report | HAM-A is clinician-administered and used primarily in research. The GAD-7 is the self-report equivalent for everyday use. |
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) | Distinguishes situational vs. dispositional anxiety | 40 items (20+20) | 20-80 per scale | Varies by population | Research and detailed clinical assessment when you need to separate 'anxiety right now' from 'anxiety as a personality trait' | STAI is longer and more nuanced. Use STAI when you need state-vs-trait distinction; use GAD-7 for routine severity measurement. |
| PHQ-9 | Depression severity | 9 items | 0-27 | ≥10 (moderate) | Depression screening from the same research team (Kroenke, Spitzer, Williams) — commonly administered alongside the GAD-7 | Different condition. Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur, so most clinicians administer both. See our [PHQ-9 page](/tools/phq-9). |
Honest summary: for most people, the GAD-7 is the right anxiety self-assessment. It's brief, free, validated, and the same instrument your doctor uses. If your anxiety presents primarily as physical symptoms (palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness), the Beck Anxiety Inventory is a useful complement. If you're scoring above 10 on the GAD-7, the next step is a healthcare conversation — not another self-assessment.
This is the exact GAD-7 instrument used in clinical practice — same 7 items, same 0-21 scoring, same severity cutoffs from Spitzer et al. 2006. It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test: only a licensed clinician can diagnose generalized anxiety disorder. ILTY hosts this calculator as a free public resource; we do not store your answers or score, and we are not affiliated with the original authors or copyright holders of the GAD-7 (Pfizer Inc. holds the copyright but has released the instrument for non-commercial use). If you score at or above the clinical threshold of 10, the evidence-based next step is to share that score with a healthcare provider, not to take a different self-assessment.
The GAD-7 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool. A score above the clinical threshold does not mean you have an anxiety disorder — only a qualified mental health professional can make that determination. If you're in crisis, contact 988.
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a brief, validated screening tool developed by Drs. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Lowe in 2006. It measures the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms over a two-week period and is used by clinicians worldwide.
Each of the 7 items is scored 0 to 3 based on symptom frequency: not at all (0), several days (1), more than half the days (2), nearly every day (3). Total scores range from 0 to 21. Standard severity cutoffs are: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe anxiety.
Yes. These are the exact 7 questions and the same scoring system used by doctors, therapists, and researchers. However, a clinical assessment includes professional interpretation, patient history, and clinical context that an online tool cannot provide.
A score of 10 is the standard clinical cutoff that triggers further evaluation in healthcare settings. It doesn't mean you have generalized anxiety disorder — it means your symptoms warrant a professional conversation. The GAD-7 has 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity at this threshold.
Clinicians typically recommend retaking the GAD-7 every 2-4 weeks when monitoring symptoms. Since the questions ask about the past two weeks, taking it more frequently than that isn't clinically meaningful.
No. The GAD-7 is a screening tool that measures symptom severity — it cannot diagnose any condition. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional that considers your full medical and psychological history.
ILTY helps you work through anxious thoughts in real conversation — not scripted responses. Available 24/7 when anxiety hits.