Who is GAD-7 for?
GAD-7 is designed for people age 13+ who want a short self-report screen for generalized anxiety symptoms. It is most useful when the main concern is worry, nervousness, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, or fear that something bad may happen.
AudiencePeople age 13+ who want to screen for generalized anxiety symptoms.
Best forQuick anxiety screening, symptom check-ins, and repeated use over time.
Not ideal forA formal diagnosis on its own, or broad trauma and panic screening.
When GAD-7 is a good fit
GAD-7 is useful when the main concern is generalized worry, nervousness, tension, or difficulty relaxing during the past 2 weeks. It can be used as a quick first screen or as a repeated symptom check over time.
| User situation | Is GAD-7 a good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| General worry and tension | Yes | GAD-7 focuses on core generalized anxiety symptoms. |
| Tracking anxiety symptoms over time | Yes | The same 7-item score can be repeated and compared. |
| Primary panic attacks | Maybe not first | A panic-specific measure may better match that concern. |
| Trauma-related symptoms | Maybe not first | A trauma or PTSD screening tool may be more specific. |
| Broad mental health screening | Use with other tools | GAD-7 focuses on anxiety, not all symptom areas. |
When another assessment may fit better
If the main concern is trauma exposure, panic symptoms, depression, sleep disturbance, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or a broad symptom profile, another assessment may match the situation better.
Who should interpret the result carefully?
- People with complex symptoms: overlapping depression, trauma, substance use, or medical symptoms can affect interpretation.
- Younger users: age, developmental context, and caregiver observations may matter when interpreting results.
- People in crisis: urgent safety concerns should be handled through immediate local support, not a screening page.