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GAD-7 Anxiety Test Clinically Validated Self-Assessment

Update Date 

September 24th, 2026

Author 

Anxiety Checklist Editorial Team
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In short

The GAD-7 is a clinically validated, seven-question self-assessment that doctors use to screen for generalised anxiety disorder and track symptoms over time. It asks how often anxiety symptoms occurred during the past two weeks, takes about two to three minutes, and produces a score from minimal to severe. Higher scores may indicate that professional guidance or further evaluation is appropriate.

Key takeaways

  • Each answer is scored from zero to three based on symptoms during the past two weeks.
  • Scores of 10–14 indicate moderate anxiety, for which professional guidance is recommended.
  • A score of 15 or more warrants consulting a doctor or licensed mental health professional.
  • When managing anxiety, the article suggests retaking the test every two to four weeks.
  • During therapy or treatment, follow your doctor’s recommendation on how often to take the test.

Free self-assessment

Take the GAD-7

Seven questions about the last two weeks. You get your score straight away, with a short personal explanation of what it means.

Questions
7
Time
2–3 min
Covers
Last 2 weeks
Score
0–21
Start the testDownload the printable PDF

A screening tool, not a diagnosis. Your answers are sent securely to generate the explanation and are not stored.

GAD-7 Anxiety Test

Question 1: Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Question 2: Not being able to stop or control worrying

Question 3: Worrying too much about different things

Question 4: Trouble relaxing

Question 5: Being so restless that it is hard to sit still

Question 6: Becoming easily annoyed or irritable

Question 7: Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen

Who the GAD-7 is for

The GAD-7 is a good first step if worry has started to take up more room in your life. It is especially useful if:

  • You feel nervous, tense or on edge most days
  • You find it hard to stop or control worrying
  • Anxiety makes it harder to relax, sleep or concentrate
  • You want a clear number to track, or to bring to your doctor

What the GAD-7 measures

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale was developed in 2006 by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B.W. Williams and Bernd Löwe, the team behind the Patient Health Questionnaire. It was built as a brief self-report measure for generalised anxiety disorder, one of the most common mental health conditions.

Its seven questions cover the core symptoms of generalised anxiety: nervousness, uncontrollable and excessive worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability and a sense that something awful might happen. Each is rated by how often it happened over the last two weeks.

Developed
2006
Validation
2,740 patients
Setting
15 primary care clinics
Published in
Arch Intern Med

How the GAD-7 is scored

Each answer scores from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), for a total between 0 and 21. The ranges come from the original study:

0–4MinimalFew or no anxiety symptoms.
5–9MildSome symptoms. Self-help and monitoring are often enough.
10–14ModerateThe usual cut-off for a possible anxiety disorder. Worth discussing with a professional.
15–21SevereSymptoms are likely affecting daily life. Professional support is recommended.

Reading your result

Your total shows how strong your anxiety symptoms have been over the last two weeks. A score of 10 or more is the point at which doctors usually look more closely, because that is where the GAD-7 best separates people with and without generalised anxiety disorder.

Look at your individual answers too. Two or three answers of "nearly every day" say something even when the total is modest, and they are useful to mention to a doctor.

Not a diagnosis

The GAD-7 screens for anxiety and measures its severity. Only a qualified professional can diagnose an anxiety disorder, after ruling out other causes such as thyroid problems, medication effects or other conditions.

What to do next

Minimal or mild (0–9)

  • Keep the routines that steady you: sleep, movement, time with people
  • Try slow breathing or a grounding exercise when worry rises
  • Take the test again in a few weeks if things change

Moderate (10–14)

  • Talk to your doctor or a therapist and bring your score
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the best-studied treatment for anxiety
  • Retake the GAD-7 every two to four weeks to follow change

Severe (15–21)

  • Please book an appointment with a professional soon
  • Treatment works: therapy, medication, or both
  • If you ever feel unsafe, find a helpline near you

How accurate is the GAD-7?

The GAD-7 is one of the most studied anxiety questionnaires in the world. The key figures:

89%of people with generalised anxiety disorder scored 10 or more (sensitivity)Spitzer et al., 2006
82%of people without it scored below 10 (specificity)Spitzer et al., 2006
5,223participants pooled in a meta-analysis confirming cut-offs of 7 to 10Plummer et al., 2016

Beyond generalised anxiety, the GAD-7 and its first two questions also performed well as screening tools for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in primary care (Kroenke et al., 2007).

How often to take it

Because it covers two weeks, taking the GAD-7 more than every two weeks mostly measures your mood that day. Every two to four weeks is enough to follow how your anxiety changes, for example while trying therapy or a new routine. During treatment, follow your clinician's advice.

GAD-7, GAD-2 and the other tests

TestMeasuresLength
GAD-7Generalised anxiety: worry and tension7 questions
GAD-2The GAD-7's first two questions, as a quick screen2 questions
OASISSeverity and impact of any anxiety disorder5 questions
DASS-21Depression, anxiety and stress, separately21 questions
PHQ-9Depression, which often accompanies anxiety9 questions

Limitations

  • It is designed around generalised anxiety; panic attacks or specific phobias may show up less clearly
  • It relies on self-report over two weeks, so one hard fortnight can raise the score
  • Physical conditions and some medicines can cause similar symptoms

Scientific references

  1. 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. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092
  2. 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. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-146-5-200703060-00004
  3. Plummer, F., Manea, L., Trepel, D., & McMillan, D. (2016). Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: a systematic review and diagnostic metaanalysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 39, 24–31. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.11.005

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal GAD-7 score?

Scores of 0 to 4 are in the minimal range. Occasional worry is part of life; the score only becomes a concern when it stays at 10 or more.

Is a GAD-7 score of 10 an anxiety disorder?

Not by itself. A score of 10 or more is the usual cut-off for a possible anxiety disorder, which a doctor or mental health professional can then assess.

Is the GAD-7 free to use?

Yes. The GAD-7 was developed with an educational grant from Pfizer and can be reproduced and used without permission.

Can I take the GAD-7 on paper?

Yes. Download the printable PDF above, fill it in, and bring it to your appointment if you wish.

What happens to my answers?

Your answers are sent securely to generate your short explanation and are not stored. Your score is calculated in your browser.

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