Chapter 23 General Anxiety Survey (GAD7)

23.1 Background

The General Anxiety Survey (GAD7) was used to measure anxiety levels, see http://www.phqscreeners.com/. Lower scores indicate minimal anxiety levels. Scores can be interpreted as follows:

  • 0-4 Minimal Anxiety
  • 5-9 Mild Anxiety
  • 10-14 Moderate Anxiety
  • 15-21 Severe Anxiety

23.2 Items

Seven items ask “Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems…” Responses range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day):

  1. Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge
  2. Not being able to stop or control worrying
  3. Worrying too much about different things
  4. Trouble relaxing
  5. Being so restless that it is hard to sit still
  6. Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
  7. Being afraid as if something awful might happen.

One final question - responses range from 0 (not difficult at all) to 3 (extremely difficult):

  1. If you checked off any of the above problems, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home or get along with other people?

Total Scores range from 0 (minimal anxiety) to 21 (severe anxiety).