GAD-7 Anxiety Screening Calculator
A clinically validated 7-question screening tool used by healthcare professionals worldwide to assess generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms and severity.
Last Updated: February 2026
About the GAD-7 Assessment
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is one of the most widely used and validated anxiety screening tools in clinical practice. Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B.W. Williams, and Bernd Löwe in 2006, the GAD-7 is used by primary care physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers to:
- Screen for the presence of anxiety symptoms
- Assess the severity of generalized anxiety
- Monitor treatment response over time
- Screen for other common anxiety disorders (panic, social anxiety, PTSD)
📋 What This Screening Measures
The GAD-7 evaluates seven core symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder based on DSM-5 criteria. These include excessive worry, difficulty controlling worry, restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, and sleep disturbance. While designed for GAD, it's also moderately sensitive for detecting panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This is a screening tool, NOT a diagnostic instrument. Only a qualified healthcare professional (physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed counselor) can diagnose an anxiety disorder. A high score indicates you should speak with a mental health professional for proper evaluation and personalized treatment recommendations.
GAD-7 Anxiety Screening Questionnaire
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
Understanding GAD-7 Scores
The GAD-7 score is calculated by adding together the responses to all seven questions. Each question is scored 0-3, giving a total score range of 0-21. Healthcare providers use these score ranges to guide clinical decisions:
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about various aspects of daily life—work, health, family, money, or everyday matters—that is difficult to control and interferes with daily activities. Unlike normal worry, GAD is chronic and often unrealistic or out of proportion to actual circumstances.
Anxiety by the Numbers
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the United States and worldwide. Despite being highly treatable, fewer than 40% of those suffering receive treatment. The good news: anxiety responds very well to both psychotherapy and medication.
Key Facts About Generalized Anxiety
- It's more than just worry. Everyone worries, but GAD involves excessive, uncontrollable worry that persists for at least 6 months.
- It has physical symptoms. Anxiety isn't just mental—it causes muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, and more.
- It's highly treatable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly effective, with 50-60% of patients achieving remission.
- It often co-occurs with depression. About 60% of people with anxiety also experience depression.
- Women are twice as likely to be affected. Hormonal, social, and neurobiological factors contribute to this disparity.
Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Recognizing Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety disorders manifest through psychological, physical, and behavioral symptoms. For a diagnosis of GAD, symptoms must be present most days for at least 6 months and cause significant distress or impairment.
😰 Psychological Symptoms
- Excessive worry about multiple areas of life
- Difficulty controlling worry
- Feeling "keyed up" or on edge
- Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
- Irritability
- Fear of the worst happening
- Racing thoughts
- Restlessness
💓 Physical Symptoms
- Muscle tension (especially shoulders, neck, jaw)
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Sleep difficulties (trouble falling or staying asleep)
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Headaches
- Stomach problems (nausea, IBS symptoms)
- Shortness of breath
🚶 Behavioral Symptoms
- Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety
- Procrastination due to perfectionism
- Seeking excessive reassurance
- Difficulty making decisions
- Overplanning or over-preparing
- Checking behaviors (locks, stove, etc.)
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty completing tasks
⚡ Panic Attack Symptoms
Panic attacks can occur with any anxiety disorder:
- Sudden intense fear or discomfort
- Heart pounding or racing
- Sweating, trembling, shaking
- Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or stomach distress
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fear of losing control or "going crazy"
- Numbness or tingling sensations
When to Seek Help
Consider seeking professional help if:
- Worry or anxiety is present most days and feels uncontrollable
- Anxiety is interfering with work, relationships, or daily activities
- You're avoiding important situations due to anxiety
- Physical symptoms like sleep problems or muscle tension are constant
- You're using alcohol or substances to cope with anxiety
- Anxiety is accompanied by depression or thoughts of self-harm
Types of Anxiety Disorders
While the GAD-7 is specifically designed to screen for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, it can also be helpful in identifying other anxiety conditions. Here are the main types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about various topics (work, health, family, daily matters) that is difficult to control. Worry is out of proportion to actual likelihood or impact of events.
Key feature: Excessive worry about multiple areas for 6+ months
Panic Disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms (racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness). Often leads to fear of future attacks.
Key feature: Unexpected panic attacks + worry about having more
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of social situations where one might be judged, embarrassed, or rejected. Goes beyond shyness—causes significant avoidance of social interactions.
Key feature: Fear of social judgment or humiliation
Specific Phobias
Intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations (heights, flying, spiders, blood, etc.) that leads to avoidance behavior.
Key feature: Fear of specific triggers that's out of proportion
Agoraphobia
Fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack. Can include fear of crowds, public transportation, open spaces, or being outside alone.
Key feature: Avoidance of places/situations, fear of being trapped
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Excessive fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures. While common in children, it can persist or develop in adulthood.
Key feature: Distress when separated from important people
Related Conditions
Some conditions that were previously classified as anxiety disorders now have their own categories but are closely related:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety following traumatic events
- Acute Stress Disorder: Short-term response to trauma
Treatment Options for Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. According to research, about 50-60% of patients with GAD achieve remission with proper treatment, and many more experience significant improvement. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.
🗣️ Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
Psychotherapy is considered first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. It addresses the root causes and teaches coping skills for long-term management.
💊 Medication
Medications can be effective for moderate to severe anxiety, especially when combined with therapy. Common options include:
- SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): First-line medication. Examples: Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine)
- SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): Also first-line. Examples: Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- Buspirone: Non-addictive anti-anxiety medication, specifically for GAD
- Benzodiazepines: Fast-acting but typically short-term use due to dependence risk. Examples: Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam)
- Beta-Blockers: Help with physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, trembling (often used for performance anxiety)
Important: SSRIs/SNRIs typically take 2-6 weeks to show full effect. Work with your healthcare provider to find the right medication and dosage. Never stop anxiety medication suddenly without medical guidance.
🌿 Lifestyle Changes & Self-Help
Lifestyle modifications can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms and support formal treatment:
- Regular Exercise: 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days can reduce anxiety as effectively as medication for some people
- Sleep Hygiene: Consistent sleep schedule, 7-9 hours nightly. Poor sleep worsens anxiety.
- Limit Caffeine: Caffeine can trigger or worsen anxiety symptoms
- Reduce Alcohol: While it may feel calming initially, alcohol worsens anxiety long-term
- Mindfulness & Meditation: Regular practice reduces anxiety. Apps like Headspace, Calm can help.
- Deep Breathing: Activates the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce physical anxiety symptoms
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Systematically tensing and relaxing muscles to reduce physical tension
- Social Connection: Maintain supportive relationships
- Limit News/Social Media: Excessive exposure can increase anxiety
Sources: American Psychological Association, NIMH, Anxiety and Depression Association of America
About the GAD-7 Assessment
Development and Validation
The GAD-7 was developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Löwe in 2006 as a brief, practical tool for screening and measuring severity of generalized anxiety in clinical and research settings.
Key validation findings:
- Spitzer et al. (2006): Original validation in primary care found excellent diagnostic accuracy
- Sensitivity: 89% at cutoff of 10 (correctly identifies 89% of GAD cases)
- Specificity: 82% at cutoff of 10 (correctly identifies 82% without GAD)
- Also detects other anxiety disorders: Moderately sensitive for panic disorder (74%), social anxiety (72%), and PTSD (66%)
- Validated across diverse populations and translated into many languages
Clinical Use of the GAD-7
Healthcare providers use the GAD-7 for:
- Screening: Identifying individuals who may have anxiety disorders
- Severity Assessment: Determining how severe anxiety symptoms are
- Treatment Monitoring: Tracking symptom changes over time (response defined as 50% reduction)
- Research: Standardized measure for clinical trials
📊 Scoring Methodology
Each of the 7 questions is scored 0-3:
- 0 = Not at all (0 days)
- 1 = Several days (1-6 days in 2 weeks)
- 2 = More than half the days (7-11 days)
- 3 = Nearly every day (12-14 days)
Total scores range from 0-21. A score of 10 or higher is the commonly used threshold for identifying probable GAD.
Limitations
While the GAD-7 is an excellent screening tool, it has limitations:
- It's a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument
- Optimized for GAD—less accurate for other anxiety disorders
- Self-reported symptoms may not match clinical interview
- Medical conditions (thyroid, heart disease) can cause similar symptoms
- Single administration is a snapshot; symptoms fluctuate
GAD-7 vs. Other Anxiety Assessments
| Assessment | Questions | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAD-7 | 7 | 2-3 min | Quick GAD screening, treatment monitoring |
| GAD-2 | 2 | <1 min | Ultra-brief screening (first 2 GAD-7 questions) |
| Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) | 21 | 5-10 min | Comprehensive anxiety assessment, focuses on physical symptoms |
| Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) | 14 | 15-20 min | Clinician-administered, clinical trials |
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) | 40 | 10-15 min | Research, distinguishes state vs. trait anxiety |
Sources: Spitzer RL, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1092-1097
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A high score suggests you may have an anxiety disorder and should seek professional evaluation. Only a licensed healthcare provider (physician, psychiatrist, psychologist) can diagnose generalized anxiety disorder or other anxiety conditions after a comprehensive assessment.
Everyone worries sometimes—it's normal and even adaptive. The difference with GAD:
- Duration: GAD involves worry on most days for at least 6 months
- Controllability: GAD worry feels uncontrollable; you can't "just stop"
- Proportion: GAD worry is excessive compared to actual risk
- Topics: GAD involves worry about many different things, not just one concern
- Impact: GAD significantly interferes with daily functioning
- Physical symptoms: GAD causes physical symptoms like muscle tension, sleep problems, fatigue
The GAD-7 asks about symptoms over the past 2 weeks. For self-monitoring, you might take it every 2-4 weeks. If you're in treatment, your provider may recommend more frequent assessments (weekly or biweekly) to track progress. A decrease of 4+ points generally indicates clinically meaningful improvement.
A score of 10 or higher suggests you should speak with a healthcare provider. Options include:
- Contact your primary care doctor—they can evaluate anxiety and provide treatment or referrals
- Find a therapist specializing in anxiety: Psychology Today or ADAA Therapist Directory
- Call SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7)
- Consider online therapy options like BetterHelp or Talkspace
Remember: anxiety is highly treatable. Most people see significant improvement with proper treatment.
Many people with anxiety disorders achieve full remission and live symptom-free. For others, anxiety may be a manageable condition that comes and goes. With effective treatment (especially CBT), people learn skills to manage anxiety for life. Key points:
- 50-60% of people with GAD achieve remission with treatment
- CBT provides skills that continue to work after therapy ends
- Some people may need ongoing or intermittent treatment
- Lifestyle factors (sleep, exercise, stress management) significantly impact long-term outcomes
No. All calculations happen entirely in your web browser. We do not collect, store, transmit, or share any of your responses or results. Your mental health information remains completely private on your device.
📚 Sources & References
Primary GAD-7 Research:
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092-1097. PubMed
- Löwe B, Decker O, Müller S, et al. Validation and standardization of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in the general population. Med Care. 2008;46(3):266-274. PubMed
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Löwe B. The Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptom Scales: a systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2010;32(4):345-359. PubMed
Clinical Guidelines:
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Katzman MA, et al. Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry. 2014;14(Suppl 1):S1. PubMed
Health Organizations:
- World Health Organization. (2023). Anxiety disorders Fact Sheet. WHO
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Anxiety Disorders. NIMH
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Understanding Anxiety. ADAA
Last Updated: February 2026
Review Schedule: Quarterly or when new clinical guidelines are published
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
This GAD-7 anxiety screening calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Important points:
- The GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. Only a qualified healthcare provider can diagnose generalized anxiety disorder or other mental health conditions.
- A high score does not necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder; a low score does not guarantee you don't.
- Medical conditions (thyroid problems, heart conditions, medication side effects) can cause anxiety-like symptoms.
- If you are currently in treatment for anxiety, continue following your provider's recommendations.
If you are experiencing severe anxiety or thoughts of self-harm:
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) - available 24/7
- Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
- Go to your nearest emergency room
- Call 911 or your local emergency number
Always seek the advice of your physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding anxiety or any other mental health condition.
Privacy: All calculations are performed in your browser. We do not collect, store, or share any personal health information you enter.