GAD-7 Test Online — Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale
The most widely used anxiety screener in clinical practice. 7 questions, 2 minutes, instant score with a personalised next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Krishna K R, MBBS MD fellowship in Psyco Sexual Medicine. Last reviewed 2026-09-25.
The 7 GAD-7 questions
The questionnaire asks how often, over the past 2 weeks, you have been bothered by each of the following:
- Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
- Not being able to stop or control worrying
- Worrying too much about different things
- Trouble relaxing
- Being so restless that it is hard to sit still
- Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
- Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
Each item 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 seven scores are summed for a total in the range 0-21.
GAD-7 score interpretation
| Score | Severity | What it means | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | Minimal anxiety | Symptoms typical for everyday life | Continue self-monitoring if concerned |
| 5-9 | Mild anxiety | Some symptoms but not impairing function | Lifestyle modifications, mindfulness, watchful waiting |
| 10-14 | Moderate anxiety | Symptoms causing some impairment | Clinical evaluation recommended; consider therapy |
| 15-21 | Severe anxiety | Significant symptoms and likely impairment | Clinical evaluation needed; therapy and possibly medication |
Important: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high score is a signal to talk to a clinician, not a verdict. Equally, a low score is not a guarantee — if anxiety is interfering with your life regardless of where you land on this scale, it is worth a conversation.
How the GAD-7 was developed
The GAD-7 was developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B. W. Williams, and Bernd Löwe, and published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006. The instrument was validated in a study of 2,740 patients across 15 primary-care sites and showed strong sensitivity (89%) and specificity (82%) for generalised anxiety disorder at a threshold of 10.
It was originally designed for generalised anxiety disorder specifically, but subsequent research showed it also picks up Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD with reasonable accuracy. It has been translated and studied in many languages and cultural settings, including India.
The instrument is used in clinical trials and in routine NHS and Cadabams clinical practice, both for initial assessment and for treatment monitoring.
Validation and evidence
The GAD-7 was developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams and Löwe and published in 2006. In the original study, 2,740 adults across 15 US primary-care clinics completed it, and 965 were also interviewed by a mental health professional. A cut-off of 10 gave 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for generalised anxiety disorder, and higher scores went with more functional impairment and disability days [1]. A 2008 general-population study in Germany confirmed a single-factor structure with an internal consistency (alpha) of 0.89, and found about 5% of adults scored 10 or more and 1% scored 15 or more [2]. In India, a psychometric study of 1,209 adults in the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program found the GAD-7's properties comparable to Western studies and stable across age, gender and education [3].
Anxiety is only one part of the picture. Read more about anxiety disorders, and if low mood is also present, the PHQ-9 depression test checks for co-occurring depression.
References
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092-1097. PubMed
- Löwe B, Decker O, Müller S, et al. Validation and standardization of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in the general population. Med Care. 2008;46(3):266-274. PubMed
- De Man J, Absetz P, Sathish T, et al. Are the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 suitable for use in India? A psychometric analysis. Front Psychol. 2021;12:676398. PubMed
GAD-7 vs other anxiety tests
| Test | Items | Time | Best for | Validated in India? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAD-7 | 7 | 2 min | General anxiety screening | Yes |
| HAM-A | 14 | 3 min | Clinician-administered detailed assessment | Yes (research) |
| PSWQ | 16 | 3 min | Excessive worry specifically | Yes |
| SPIN | 17 | 3 min | Social anxiety | Yes |
| DASS-21 | 21 | 4 min | Combined depression + anxiety + stress | Yes |
The GAD-7 is the standard first-line test. Use the others if you have a specific concern (e.g. SPIN for social anxiety) or want a clinician-administered deep assessment.
When to act on your result
- Score 0-4: No action needed. If you took this because of a recent stressor, monitor for 2-4 weeks and retake if symptoms persist.
- Score 5-9: Try stress-management techniques. The Mindtalk breathwork audios, the RAIN mindfulness worksheet, or the 90-day Anxiety Loop Breaker journey are all reasonable starting points. Retake the GAD-7 in 4 weeks.
- Score 10+: Book a clinical evaluation. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are bookable directly in the app for online or in-person sessions in Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Mysore. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a first-line psychological treatment for generalised anxiety.
- Score 15+: Clinical evaluation is needed. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm at any score level, please contact a crisis helpline same-day: iCall 9152987821, Vandrevala 1860 2662 345, AASRA +91 98204 66726, or the Cadabams 24/7 line +91 97414 76476.
After the GAD-7
- Track over time. Retake the GAD-7 every 2-4 weeks; the Mindtalk app charts your scores automatically so a trend is visible at a glance.
- Start a structured programme. The 90-day Anxiety Loop Breaker journey is a CBT-based path designed exactly for GAD-7 scores in the 10-14 band.
- Try the CBT toolkit. The CBT Thought Record and the Cognitive Distortions worksheet are the canonical between-session practices.
- Practise breathwork. Short 4-7-8 and Box Breathing audios in the breathwork category interrupt the acute anxiety response in 1-3 minutes.
- Book a specialist. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists cover anxiety disorders across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India.
How to take the GAD-7
- 1
Open the GAD-7 in the Mindtalk app
Tap "Take the GAD-7" to open the assessment in the Mindtalk app. You will need a free Mindtalk account — sign-in takes under a minute.
- 2
Answer the 7 questions
For each of the 7 items, choose how often you have been bothered by the symptom over the past 2 weeks. Each is scored 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day). The whole questionnaire takes about 2 minutes.
- 3
Get your score and recommendation
You receive a total score (0-21), a severity band (minimal, mild, moderate, severe), and a personalised next-step recommendation — anything from self-monitoring to booking a clinical evaluation with a Mindtalk psychiatrist.
Related assessment guides
BAI (explained) → GAD-7 alternative
The Beck Anxiety Inventory — the classic 21-item somatic-focused anxiety measure. Learn what it is, and take the free GAD-7 alternative in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →HAM-A
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale — the clinician-administered anxiety severity standard since 1959. 14 items, 8 minutes, instant score bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →PANC
Are you having panic attacks? Test whether the pattern fits Panic Disorder criteria in 3 minutes. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →PSWQ
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire — the standard measure of trait pathological worry. 16 items, 4 minutes, instant clinical bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →SIAS
The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale — the standard measure of anxiety in one-on-one and small-group interaction. 20 items, 4 minutes. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →SPIN
The Social Phobia Inventory — the standard self-report scale for social anxiety disorder. 17 items, 4 minutes, instant clinical bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is the GAD-7?
- The GAD-7 has strong validation as an anxiety screener — sensitivity 89% and specificity 82% for generalised anxiety disorder when using the standard threshold of 10. It was developed by Spitzer et al. in 2006 and is now the global standard used in primary care, psychiatric practice, clinical trials, and treatment monitoring. It has been validated across dozens of countries including in Indian populations.
- What's a normal GAD-7 score?
- Scores fall into four bands: 0-4 (minimal anxiety — typical), 5-9 (mild anxiety — may want to monitor), 10-14 (moderate anxiety — clinical evaluation recommended), 15-21 (severe anxiety — clinical evaluation needed). A score of 10 or higher is the typical threshold for further clinical assessment.
- What 7 questions does the GAD-7 ask?
- Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by: (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's hard to sit still; (6) becoming easily annoyed or irritable; (7) feeling afraid as if something awful might happen. Each question is scored 0-3 (Not at all / Several days / More than half the days / Nearly every day).
- How is the GAD-7 different from the PHQ-9?
- The GAD-7 measures anxiety; the PHQ-9 measures depression. They are complementary instruments from the same research group and often administered together because anxiety and depression frequently co-occur. The GAD-7 has 7 items focused on worry, restlessness, and apprehension. The PHQ-9 has 9 items focused on mood, energy, and self-worth. If you are uncertain whether your concern is more anxiety or depression, taking both gives a fuller picture — the DASS-21 covers both plus stress in a single instrument.
- Can the GAD-7 diagnose me?
- No — the GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A high score (10+) indicates that your anxiety symptoms are clinically significant and warrant evaluation by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. The diagnosis itself requires a clinician to integrate the score with your full history, rule out medical contributors (thyroid, cardiac, hormonal causes can mimic anxiety), and assess impact on daily functioning.
- How is the GAD-7 scored?
- Each of the 7 questions is answered 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days) or 3 (nearly every day). Add the seven answers for a total of 0-21. Scores of 5, 10 and 15 are the published cut-points for mild, moderate and severe anxiety, and 10 is the usual point at which a clinical evaluation is recommended. The Mindtalk app does the scoring for you.
- Is this anxiety test free, and can I take it online?
- Yes. The GAD-7 is free to use, and you can take it online in the Mindtalk app in about 2 minutes. You get your total score, severity band and a suggested next step immediately. Your results are saved so you can retake the test every few weeks and see your trend.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.