What is the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)?

The GAD-7 is a brief, self-administered anxiety scale designed to identify probable cases of generalized anxiety disorder and assess symptom severity.

Who developed the GAD-7 and when?

Developed by Dr. Robert L. Spitzer and colleagues in 2006.

What type of assessment is the GAD-7?

It is a self-report questionnaire that can also be administered by healthcare providers.

What symptoms does the GAD-7 assess?

• Excessive worry and anxiety
• Restlessness and feeling on edge
• Difficulty controlling worry
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Concentration problems
• Irritability
• Muscle tension and sleep difficulties

How many items and what format?

7 items based on DSM-IV criteria for GAD, rated on a 4-point scale (0-3).

How is the GAD-7 scored?

Total score ranges from 0-21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity.

Who can use the GAD-7?

Adults in primary care, specialty care, and community settings.

What are the strengths of the GAD-7?

Excellent reliability and validity, brief and easy to administer, good screening accuracy for GAD.

What are the limitations of the GAD-7?

Focuses specifically on GAD symptoms; may not capture other anxiety disorders as effectively.