Anxiety self-check
The seven-question Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) is a short checklist, built for use in doctors' offices, that looks for signs of anxiety and measures how severe symptoms are. Answer each question about the last 2 weeks.
Screening, not a diagnosis
A score can show that it is time to talk with someone. Only a health care provider can diagnose an anxiety disorder, after asking about your symptoms and making sure another health problem is not the cause.
Private by design
Your answers stay in this browser tab. Nothing is stored, sent, or tracked, and closing or reloading the page clears them. Only you can print or save a copy.
Crisis help is always here
These questions do not ask about suicide, so crisis contacts stay on screen the whole time. You can call or text 988 at any time, whatever your score.
GAD-7
Seven questions about the last 2 weeks
Your results
Answer all 7 questions
0 of 7 answered. Your score appears when every question has an answer.
| Score | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | Minimal |
| 5 to 9 | Mild |
| 10 to 14 | Moderate |
| 15 to 21 | Severe |
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Only a health care provider can diagnose an anxiety disorder, and some medicines, substances such as caffeine, and medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, can cause the same symptoms. Please take your results to a health care provider.
Print and save turn on once all 7 questions are answered.
Print opens your print dialog, where you can also choose Save as PDF. Save results downloads a small text file to your device.
What to do next
Take your results to a health care provider
Book a visit
A primary care doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker can help. They may ask when symptoms began, how long they have lasted, and how often they happen.
National Institute of Mental Health · Generalized anxiety disorder
Learn about treatment
Treatment for generalized anxiety typically involves talk therapy, medicine, or both, chosen with a provider to fit your needs.
National Institute of Mental Health · Generalized anxiety disorder
Keep a daily log
Providers ask when symptoms began, how often they happen, and how severe they are. A week of notes makes those answers easier.
National Institute of Mental Health · Tips for talking with a health care provider
Already on a medicine?
Antidepressants used for anxiety may take several weeks to start working. If you still have symptoms, ask about the options.
National Institute of Mental Health · Generalized anxiety disorder
About the GAD-7
Where these questions come from
The seven questions and answer choices are copied word for word from the official English GAD-7 form. The difficulty question comes from the instruction manual for the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) family of measures, which includes the GAD-7; it is not part of the score.
Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
The PHQ screeners website says all its screeners and translations can be downloaded, and no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute them.
The GAD-7 was first tested in 2,740 primary care patients to find generalized anxiety disorder, and it also works fairly well as a screener for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Scores of 5, 10, and 15 mark mild, moderate, and severe anxiety. The manual recommends further evaluation at a score of 10 or more, which is why a score is a reason to talk with a provider, not a final answer.