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The GAD-7 (Spitzer 2006) screens for and grades the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms over the prior two weeks. Seven items are each scored 0–3 (total 0–21), with a cut-point of 10 maximizing sensitivity (~89%) and specificity (~82%) for generalized anxiety disorder; scores fall into minimal, mild, moderate, and severe bands.
GAD-7 total = sum of 7 item scores (each 0–3, over the past 2 weeks) → 0–21. 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–21 severe.
0–9 (no/minimal to mild anxiety symptoms). A total ≥ 10 is the recommended cut-point for generalized anxiety disorder.
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, and colleagues in 2006 as a brief self-report scale for detecting probable generalized anxiety disorder and grading its severity. Each of the seven items is rated 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day) for the past two weeks, for a total of 0–21. A cut-point of 10 yields a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% for generalized anxiety disorder. Severity bands are 0–4 (minimal), 5–9 (mild), 10–14 (moderate), and 15–21 (severe). Because anxiety and depression often co-exist, the GAD-7 is commonly administered alongside the PHQ-9.
Specialty
General MedicineCategory
Mental HealthDifficulty
Basic
Estimated Time
30 seconds
Version
1.0
Last Updated
2026-08-16
Formula
Keywords
Normal Range
0–9 (no/minimal to mild anxiety symptoms). A total ≥ 10 is the recommended cut-point for generalized anxiety disorder.
| Classification | Range |
|---|---|
Minimal Minimal anxiety symptoms | 0–4 |
Mild Mild anxiety symptoms; watchful waiting | 5–9 |
Moderate Moderate anxiety; consider treatment | 10–14 |
Severe Severe anxiety; active treatment | 15–21 |
Screens for and grades the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms over the previous two weeks, guiding identification and treatment decisions in primary care and general medicine.
Total 0–4 = minimal, 5–9 = mild, 10–14 = moderate, and 15–21 = severe anxiety. A cut-point of 10 maximizes sensitivity (~89%) and specificity (~82%) for generalized anxiety disorder.
The GAD-7 provides a brief, reliable measure of anxiety severity whose cut-point of 10 enables efficient case-finding and treatment monitoring, filling a key gap in primary care mental health screening.
A 34-year-old man reports two weeks of persistent worry and tension. He scores 2 for feeling nervous and for being unable to stop worrying, 3 for worrying too much, 1 for trouble relaxing, 2 for restlessness, 0 for irritability, and 1 for a feeling that something awful may happen.
Inputs:
GAD-7 = 2 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 1 = 11/21 — MODERATE anxiety symptoms. A score ≥ 10 supports the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and initiation of treatment.
Not necessarily. A score ≥ 10 indicates probable GAD and warrants treatment consideration, but the diagnosis is confirmed clinically, and other anxiety disorders must be considered.
Yes — anxiety and depression frequently co-occur. Administering the GAD-7 alongside the PHQ-9 provides a more complete mental health assessment.
Disclaimer: This calculator is intended for educational and clinical decision support purposes only. The GAD-7 is a screening tool and does not replace clinical assessment or exclude other anxiety disorders.
Patients with prominent depressive symptoms
Pregnant and postpartum patients