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Anxiety Test (GAD-7)

A 7-question questionnaire for assessing anxiety over the past 2 weeks. Helps identify generalized anxiety disorder.

7 questions · about 2 minutes · free, no sign-up

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following?

1. Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

2. Not being able to stop or control worrying

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

3. Worrying too much about different things

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

4. Trouble relaxing

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

5. Being so restless that it is hard to sit still

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

6. Becoming easily annoyed or irritable

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

7. Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen

Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day

See my result

How the score is read

Add up your answers: the total runs from 0 to 21.

Score	Level
0–4	Minimal
5–9	Mild
10–14	Moderate
15–21	Severe

About this questionnaire

Source: Spitzer, Kroenke & Williams. Released into the public domain by Pfizer; no permission required to use, translate or display. Read the original publication →

Who developed it

The GAD-7 was developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B. W. Williams and Bernd Löwe and published in 2006 in Archives of Internal Medicine. It was validated on 2,740 adult patients in 15 primary-care clinics in the United States. The seven items were chosen from a longer list because together they matched the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder best. Pfizer, which funded the work, released the questionnaire into the public domain, which is why it can be reproduced, translated and used freely.

How it is used

Doctors and psychologists use the GAD-7 in two ways: as a first screen and as a way of tracking change. The total is the sum of the seven answers, from 0 to 21. In the original study a score of 10 or more identified generalized anxiety disorder with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82%, and the cut-offs of 5, 10 and 15 mark mild, moderate and severe symptom levels. Because the scale also picks up panic disorder, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress reasonably well, it is often given as a general anxiety screen. Repeating it every few weeks shows whether things are moving: in England's NHS Talking Therapies programme it is filled in at every session, and a change of 4 points or more is treated as reliable.

What it does not measure

A score is not a diagnosis. The GAD-7 counts how often symptoms were present over the last two weeks; it does not say why. Poor sleep, too much caffeine, some medicines, thyroid problems and a genuinely stressful fortnight can all raise the score without an anxiety disorder behind it. It does not distinguish between kinds of anxiety, does not ask about panic attacks or specific fears, and says nothing about the months before. A single high result is a reason to look closer, not a label.

What to do with your result

Read the level in the table above as a description of the last two weeks, not of you. A score under 5 is the range most people are in most of the time. From 5 to 9, it is worth noticing what has changed lately and taking the questionnaire again in two weeks. From 10 upwards, or at any level if worry is getting in the way of sleep, work or people you care about, talk to a doctor or a mental-health professional: this is exactly the score they would ask you for, and effective treatments for anxiety exist. Whatever the number, regular movement, a steadier sleep schedule, less caffeine and a few minutes of slow breathing on hard days all have evidence behind them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a GAD-7 score of 10 mean?

Ten is the threshold most guidelines use for moderate anxiety and the point at which a further conversation with a professional is recommended. In the original validation study, 10 or more identified generalized anxiety disorder in about nine out of ten people who had it. It is a screening cut-off, not a diagnosis: a professional would also ask how long the symptoms have lasted and what else is going on.

Is the GAD-7 only for generalized anxiety disorder?

It was designed for it, but it picks up other anxiety disorders too. In the validation study a score of 10 or more also flagged panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder with reasonable accuracy, so it is used as a broad screen for anxiety rather than a test for one condition.

How often can I take the GAD-7?

As often as you like, but the answers only make sense two weeks apart, because every question asks about the last two weeks. Retaking it every two to four weeks shows a trend; a change of 4 points or more is generally treated as a real change rather than day-to-day noise.

What is the difference between the GAD-7 and the GAD-2?

The GAD-2 is the first two questions of the GAD-7, about feeling nervous and being unable to stop worrying, scored from 0 to 6. It is used as an ultra-brief first screen: a score of 3 or more suggests taking the full GAD-7. The GAD-7 gives a finer picture and the severity levels.

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Luther is an AI companion for everyday support. It is not therapy, not medical care and not a diagnosis. If you are thinking about harming yourself, please do not wait: call your local emergency number, or find a helpline for your country at findahelpline.com.