Question 1

What is the sensitivity and specificity of the GAD-7?

Accepted Answer

At the recommended cutoff of 10, the GAD-7 has 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for detecting generalized anxiety disorder, established in the original validation study by Spitzer et al. (2006) using structured psychiatric interviews with 965 primary care patients.

Question 2

What are the GAD-7 clinical cutoff scores?

Accepted Answer

The GAD-7 uses cutoffs of 5, 10, and 15 to define mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, with 0-4 indicating minimal anxiety. A score of 10 or greater is the recommended threshold for identifying probable GAD and warrants further diagnostic evaluation (Spitzer et al., 2006, Archives of Internal Medicine).

Question 3

Can the GAD-7 screen for anxiety disorders other than GAD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At a cutoff of 10 it shows sensitivity of 74% for panic disorder, 72% for social anxiety disorder, and 66% for PTSD, with specificity of 80-81%. However, it performs best for generalized anxiety disorder specifically.

Question 4

Is the GAD-7 validated for use in adolescents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The GAD-7 has been validated in adolescents aged 12-17, with strong correlation between scores and the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale. Measurement invariance by sex and grade has been established for adolescents aged 12-19. The original validation was in adult primary care patients.

Question 5

How does the GAD-7 compare to the GAD-2?

Accepted Answer

The GAD-2 uses only the first two items as an ultra-brief screen, with a cutoff of 3 or greater. While faster, the full GAD-7 provides severity grading and higher diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 89% vs. approximately 76-86%). The GAD-2 is best as a first-stage screen, with the full GAD-7 for positive cases.

Question 6

What does my GAD-7 score mean?

Accepted Answer

We have a detailed scoring guide that explains how to interpret your GAD-7 results, including severity ranges and recommended clinical actions. Read our full scoring guide.

GAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale

Take the GAD-7 assessment. Brief 7-item anxiety screening tool used worldwide. Evidence-based transdiagnostic anxiety severity measure for clinical practice.

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