You answered two questions about the past two weeks and got a score between 0 and 6. The GAD-2 is designed to do one thing: flag whether you might benefit from a more thorough anxiety assessment. Here's what your score means.
The quick answer
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | Anxiety disorder unlikely; no further screening needed |
| 3-4 | Possible anxiety disorder; further assessment recommended |
| 5-6 | Anxiety disorder likely; complete assessment strongly recommended |
A score of 3 or higher is considered a "positive screen." This doesn't mean you have an anxiety disorder—it means the screening suggests you should complete a more thorough assessment.
What the GAD-2 actually measures
The two questions ask about core anxiety symptoms:
1. Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
2. Not being able to stop or control worrying
These aren't just any two anxiety symptoms. They're the defining features of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)—the specific disorder the tool was designed to detect. The first captures the physical and emotional experience of anxiety. The second captures the cognitive aspect: worry that feels uncontrollable.
Why only two questions?
The GAD-2 was designed for situations where time is limited—like a routine doctor's visit. It takes less than a minute and catches about 86% of people who actually have generalized anxiety disorder.
The tradeoff: it can't tell you how severe your anxiety is, whether you need treatment, or what specific anxiety disorder you might have. That requires the full GAD-7 or an evaluation with a provider.
What to do based on your score
Score 0-2 (negative screen)
Your answers suggest an anxiety disorder is unlikely right now. The GAD-2 is good at ruling out anxiety—over 95% of people who score 0-2 don't have generalized anxiety disorder.
That said:
- If you're still concerned about anxiety, trust yourself. Screening tools miss some cases.
- Anxiety can develop over time. If things change, get screened again.
- The GAD-2 focuses on worry-type anxiety. Physical symptoms (racing heart, panic attacks) or specific fears might not trigger a positive screen.
Score 3-4 (positive screen)
Your score suggests possible anxiety. The next step is completing the GAD-7, which has 7 questions and evaluates anxiety severity more completely.
This doesn't mean you definitely have an anxiety disorder. About half of people who screen positive on the GAD-2 don't have generalized anxiety disorder when evaluated more thoroughly. But it's worth investigating.
Score 5-6 (strong positive)
Both questions were answered at high frequency. Completing the GAD-7 is strongly recommended. If that score is also elevated, talking to a healthcare provider makes sense.
What the GAD-2 doesn't tell you
It doesn't diagnose anxiety. A positive screen means "further evaluation recommended," not "you have an anxiety disorder."
It doesn't measure severity. A score of 3 and a score of 6 both mean "positive screen"—the GAD-2 can't distinguish mild from severe anxiety.
It doesn't identify which anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and PTSD are all different conditions. The GAD-2 can flag possible anxiety problems but can't tell them apart.
It misses some anxiety types. The GAD-2 focuses on worry and general nervousness. If your anxiety involves panic attacks, specific phobias, or social situations, you might score negative even though you're struggling.
The relationship between GAD-2 and GAD-7
The GAD-2 is actually the first two questions of the GAD-7. They work together:
- GAD-2: Quick screen to identify who needs further assessment
- GAD-7: Full assessment to evaluate severity and guide treatment
If your GAD-2 was positive, completing the GAD-7 makes sense. You'll answer 5 more questions about restlessness, fatigue, irritability, concentration, and physical tension. That fuller picture helps determine whether treatment might help.
How does the GAD-2 compare to the PHQ-2?
You might have also taken the PHQ-2, which screens for depression. They're companions:
| Tool | Screens for | Questions about |
|---|---|---|
| PHQ-2 | Depression | Interest/pleasure, feeling down |
| GAD-2 | Anxiety | Nervousness, uncontrollable worry |
| PHQ-4 | Both | All four questions combined |
Anxiety and depression often occur together—about 60% of people with an anxiety disorder also have depression at some point. Screening for both makes sense.
Common questions
Can I just take the GAD-7 instead?
Yes. The GAD-7 includes the GAD-2 questions plus five more. If you have time for the full assessment, there's no disadvantage to skipping the 2-question version.
I scored positive but I don't feel particularly anxious—what gives?
The questions ask about nervousness and worry, which can be elevated for reasons other than an anxiety disorder: stress, medical conditions, caffeine, or just a difficult couple of weeks. A positive screen means "let's look closer," not "you have anxiety."
I scored negative but I know I have anxiety.
The GAD-2 misses about 14% of generalized anxiety disorder cases. It also performs less well for other anxiety types:
- Panic disorder: catches about 76% of cases
- Social anxiety: catches about 70% of cases
- PTSD: catches only about 59% of cases
If you're struggling with anxiety that doesn't involve worry and general nervousness, the GAD-2 might not detect it.
My provider only gave me the GAD-2. Is that enough?
It's appropriate as a first-step screen. If it's positive, you should receive follow-up—either the GAD-7 or a conversation with your provider. If they screen and then ignore a positive result, that's concerning.
What if I have physical anxiety symptoms but not much worry?
You might score lower on the GAD-2 because its questions emphasize the worry aspect of anxiety. Panic attacks, physical tension, and somatic symptoms aren't directly measured. If physical symptoms are your main issue, mention them to your provider even if your GAD-2 was negative.
When to seek help regardless of score
Contact a healthcare provider if:
- Anxiety is interfering with work, relationships, or daily activities
- You're avoiding situations because of fear or worry
- You're having panic attacks
- Physical symptoms (racing heart, sweating, trembling) are frequent
- You're concerned about your mental health, even with a low score
A screening tool is a starting point, not the final word.
The bottom line
The GAD-2 answers one question: "Is further anxiety assessment warranted?" A score of 0-2 says probably not; a score of 3 or higher says yes. If you screened positive, take the GAD-7 or talk to a healthcare provider. The GAD-2 can't diagnose anxiety or measure its severity—it just opens the door to a more complete evaluation.
Related assessments
- GAD-7 — The full anxiety assessment (take this if your GAD-2 was positive)
- PHQ-2 — The 2-question depression screener
- PHQ-4 — GAD-2 + PHQ-2 combined (depression and anxiety screen in 4 questions)
- DASS-21 — Measures depression, anxiety, and stress together