GAD-7 Score Calculator
Score the 7-item GAD-7 anxiety questionnaire by selecting how often each symptom bothered you over the last 2 weeks. The calculator totals your answers (0–21) and shows the anxiety severity category.
Score Your GAD-7 Anxiety Questionnaire
GAD-7 Score Formula
Where:
- \(Q_1\)–\(Q_7\) — the answers to the seven questions, each scored 0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half the days, 3 = Nearly every day
The total score is simply the sum of the seven item scores. It is then mapped to a severity category: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, and 15–21 severe anxiety, using the cut-offs from Spitzer et al. (2006).
GAD-7 Score – Calculation Example
Example: over the last 2 weeks, a person answered "Several days" (1 point) to feeling nervous, not being able to control worrying, worrying too much, trouble relaxing, and becoming easily annoyed — and "Not at all" (0 points) to being so restless it is hard to sit still and feeling afraid something awful might happen.
\[ \text{GAD-7} = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 5 \]
Result: a total score of 5 out of 21 (about 24% of the maximum), which falls in the mild anxiety range (5–9 points).
How to Use the GAD-7 Score Calculator
- Read the instruction line: "Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?" Every answer must reflect that 2-week window.
- For the first question, "Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge", choose one of the four options: Not at all, Several days, More than half the days, or Nearly every day.
- Repeat the same for the remaining six questions, from "Not being able to stop or control worrying" through "Feeling afraid, as if something awful might happen".
- Review your answers and adjust any of them — the result updates as soon as all seven questions are answered.
- Read "Your GAD-7 Result": the total GAD-7 score in points, the anxiety severity category, and a short interpretation of what the score means.
What Is the GAD-7?
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is a brief self-report questionnaire developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams and colleagues as a screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. It asks how often, during the previous two weeks, a person has been bothered by seven core anxiety symptoms: nervousness, uncontrollable worry, excessive worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and feelings of impending doom. Because it takes only a couple of minutes to complete, the GAD-7 is widely used in primary care, research, and routine clinical monitoring.
Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day), so the total score ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more frequent and severe anxiety symptoms. The instrument was validated against structured clinical interviews, and a cut-off of 10 points was found to identify generalized anxiety disorder with good sensitivity (about 89%) and specificity (about 82%).
The score is interpreted in four bands: 0–4 suggests minimal anxiety, 5–9 mild anxiety, 10–14 moderate anxiety, and 15–21 severe anxiety. In common practice, scores of 5, 10, and 15 serve as thresholds for mild, moderate, and severe cases, with a score of 10 or more typically used as the cut-off for referring a patient to a mental health professional for further evaluation.
Beyond a single measurement, the GAD-7 is useful for tracking change over time. Repeating the questionnaire every few weeks — for example, before and after starting treatment — shows whether symptoms are improving, stable, or worsening, which can help guide decisions about care.
Assumptions, Limitations, and Practical Tips
- The GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high score does not confirm an anxiety disorder, and a low score does not rule one out. Only a qualified clinician can make a diagnosis after a full clinical interview.
- The 2-week window matters. Answers should describe how you felt during the last two weeks, not over your whole life. Answering based on a longer or shorter period distorts the score.
- Symptoms from other causes can inflate the score. Physical illnesses, medications, caffeine, sleep deprivation, or substances can produce symptoms similar to anxiety. The GAD-7 cannot distinguish the source.
- One item deserves special attention. Research shows that a non-zero score on question 2 ("Not being able to stop or control worrying") particularly points toward generalized anxiety disorder, even when the total is modest.
- Use the same tool when tracking progress. Consistent repeat measurements with the GAD-7 are more informative than switching between different anxiety questionnaires.
- If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, do not wait for a score — contact your local emergency services or a crisis line immediately.
If you find this tool useful, you may also want to try our Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) calculator, another validated self-report screening questionnaire, or our Glasgow Coma Scale calculator, a clinical scoring instrument used for a very different purpose — assessing level of consciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I score the GAD-7 by hand?
Assign each of the seven questions a value from 0 to 3: Not at all = 0, Several days = 1, More than half the days = 2, Nearly every day = 3. Then add all seven values together with plain addition: \(Q_1 + Q_2 + \dots + Q_7\). For example, answering 2, 1, 1, 0, 1, 2, 0 gives \(2+1+1+0+1+2+0 = 7\). No multiplication or weighting is involved — every question counts equally.
What is a normal or good GAD-7 score?
A score of 0–4 is considered minimal anxiety and is what most people without an anxiety disorder score. Scores of 5–9 indicate mild, 10–14 moderate, and 15–21 severe anxiety symptoms. Keep in mind these are population-based bands, not personal benchmarks — even a modest score deserves attention if the symptoms distress you or interfere with work, sleep, or relationships.
At what GAD-7 score should I see a doctor?
The commonly used referral cut-off is 10 points or more, which is where the scale identifies probable generalized anxiety disorder with roughly 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Many clinicians also recommend seeking help for lower scores if symptoms persist for weeks, worsen, or affect daily functioning. A high score is a reason to get evaluated, not a diagnosis in itself.
How accurate is the GAD-7, and can it diagnose anxiety?
The GAD-7 is a well-validated screening tool, but it cannot diagnose anything. It estimates the likelihood that clinically significant anxiety is present; only a structured clinical interview by a qualified professional can confirm generalized anxiety disorder or rule it out. False positives happen with caffeine, sleep loss, thyroid problems, or medication side effects, and false negatives occur when people underreport symptoms.
How often should I retake the GAD-7 to track my symptoms?
Repeating it every 1–4 weeks is typical when monitoring symptoms or treatment response — for example, before starting therapy or medication and at each follow-up. Research suggests a change of about 4 points or more is a meaningful improvement or worsening, while smaller shifts may be random variation. Always answer for the last 2 weeks only, and use the same questionnaire each time so the results are comparable.
What is the difference between the GAD-7 and the GAD-2?
The GAD-2 uses only the first two questions of the GAD-7 (nervousness and uncontrollable worry) and scores 0–6, with 3 or more suggesting possible anxiety disorder. It works as an ultra-brief first pass, while the full GAD-7 gives a more reliable severity measure and is preferred for monitoring over time. If your GAD-2 screen is positive, completing all seven items is the natural next step.
Does the GAD-7 work for depression, panic, or other conditions?
The GAD-7 was designed specifically for generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, though it correlates with other anxiety-related conditions. It does not measure depression — for that, the PHQ-9 is the standard companion tool, and many clinics administer both together. Panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD have their own dedicated screening instruments, so a high GAD-7 should prompt a broader clinical assessment rather than a self-diagnosis.