GAD 7 test

Book now

GAD-7 Test

The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a widely used, brief self-report questionnaire for screening for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and assessing their severity. It is an easy-to-use, reliable, and valid tool supported by empirical research for clinical practice and research.

How the GAD-7 Test Works

The GAD-7 consists of seven questions that ask how often a person has been concerned by specific problems over the last two weeks.

The response options are rated on a 4-point scale:

Not at all (0 points)

Several days (1 point)

More than half the days (2 points)

Nearly every day (3 points)

The total score is calculated by summing the points for all seven questions, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 21.

The seven questions address symptoms such as:

Feeling nervous
Being unable to control worrying
Worrying excessively
Trouble relaxing, restlessness, and irritability
Feeling afraid

Interpreting the Results

Only a qualified healthcare professional, such as a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or physician, can provide an official diagnosis and recommend treatment. Registered and licensed therapists often document client reports and observations in their records to advocate for their clients during the assessment process.

Higher scores suggest more severe anxiety symptoms.

Score: Anxiety Severity

0-4

Minimal anxiety

5-9

Mild anxiety

10-14

Moderate anxiety

15-21

Severe anxiety

GAD 7 Test for Anxiety: Disclosure

The GAD 7 was developed by Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. In “A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med.” The instrument is now in the public domain, and no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute it.

Canada Online Therapy acknowledges the developers and original copyright holders Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Löwe published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006.

Full citation: Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092–1097.

The GAD 7 test is intended for clinical documentation and screening purposes only to assist healthcare professionals in identifying depressive symptoms.

* Please note: it is not a substitute for a comprehensive diagnosis by a trained clinician.*

In Canada, an official diagnosis can typically only be provided by a qualified healthcare professional such as a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or registered clinical psychologist.

Registered and licensed therapists utilize these results to inform their treatment plans and advocate for their clients during the assessment process and for special purposes such as needed and presented by their clients.