Anxiety Screener (GAD-7)

The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a brief, validated, self-administered screening tool specifically designed to identify and assess the severity of symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It is one of the most common instruments used in primary care and mental health settings due to its speed and ease of use. The scale consists of seven items that directly reflect the DSM diagnostic criteria for GAD, asking the patient how often, over the last two weeks, they have been bothered by symptoms such as: feeling nervous or anxious; not being able to stop or control worrying; worrying too much about different things; having trouble relaxing; being so restless it's hard to sit still; becoming easily annoyed or irritable; and feeling afraid as if something awful might happen. Each of these seven items is scored on a 4-point scale (0 = "Not at all", 1 = "Several days", 2 = "More than half the days", 3 = "Nearly every day"). The total score ranges from 0 to 21. Total scores are commonly interpreted as follows: 0-4 indicate minimal anxiety; 5-9 indicate mild anxiety; 10-14 indicate moderate anxiety; and 15-21 indicate severe anxiety. A cutoff score of 10 is often used as the optimal threshold for identifying patients with GAD who may require further evaluation or treatment. In addition to screening, the GAD-7 is an effective tool for monitoring symptom severity and treatment response over time.