Anxiety Test (GAD-7 Screener)

The GAD-7 is the criterion-standard 7-item anxiety screener used worldwide in primary care and behavioral health. GAD-7 ≥10 = moderate anxiety (sensitivity 89%, specificity 82%). Score 0–21 across 4 severity levels. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams & Löwe (2006). Free for clinical use.

Do I Have Anxiety? What Anxiety Actually Is

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that serves as an adaptive warning signal. Anxiety disorders occur when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, hard to control, and causes significant distress or impairment, either in response to situations that don't warrant that level of concern, or through anticipatory worry about future events. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the world, affecting approximately 284 million people globally.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the anxiety disorder most widely screened for using the GAD-7, involves persistent, excessive worry about multiple topics (finances, health, work, relationships) that is difficult to control, typically accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, irritability, sleep disturbance, and fatigue. GAD is distinct from Social Anxiety Disorder (fear of scrutiny), Panic Disorder (fear of panic attacks), and specific phobias (fear of specific objects or situations).

The GAD-7, developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Löwe (2006), is the most widely validated anxiety screening and monitoring tool in primary care and behavioral health settings. A GAD-7 score of 10 or above has sensitivity 89% and specificity 82% for GAD, and also screens effectively for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and PTSD. The GAD-7 is free for clinical and non-commercial research use.

GAD-7 Anxiety Screener

Rate how often you've been bothered by each of the following problems over the last 2 weeks. GAD-7 is free for clinical and non-commercial use.

GAD-7 © Pfizer Inc. Free for clinical and non-commercial research use. GAD-7 screens for GAD, panic, social anxiety, and PTSD at ≥10. This screener does not replace clinical evaluation by a healthcare provider.

GAD-7 Score Reference

Spitzer et al. (2006). GAD-7 ≥10 is the standard clinical cutoff. As a functional impairment measure, GAD-7 also tracks whether anxiety is impacting work, social activities, or daily functioning.

Score Interpretation

DSM-5-TR GAD Criteria

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Assessment Tools

CBT, particularly Cognitive Restructuring + Worry Exposure (for GAD) and Exposure and Response Prevention (for OCD, phobias), achieves clinically significant improvement in 70–80% of people with anxiety disorders. SSRIs and SNRIs are first-line medications. For many anxiety disorders, CBT alone is as effective as medication, with more durable effects. Anxiety disorders are among the most treatment-responsive conditions in psychiatry.

Anxiety Outcome Monitoring in HiBoop

GAD-7, PHQ-9, PHQ-4, and SPIN, integrated anxiety and comorbid depression outcome monitoring for primary care, behavioral health, and specialty anxiety programs.