---
title: "GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder – 7)"
description: "A seven item self-report questionnaire covering the previous two weeks based largely on the DSM-IV criteria for \"Generalised Anxiety Disorder\". #### Details The development was described in Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006).…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/gad-7-general-anxiety-disorder-7/"
updated: "2026-06-01"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder – 7)

A seven item self-report questionnaire covering the previous two weeks based largely on the DSM-IV criteria for "Generalised Anxiety Disorder".

#### Details

The development was described in Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7. *Archives of Internal Medicine*, *166*(10), 1092. [https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092](https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092). The measure is copyright to the drug company Pfizer ([https://www.phqscreeners.com/](https://www.phqscreeners.com/)) and they make no charge for reproduction though the licence has never been made explicit as far as I know. With the related PHQ-9 it has become almost a *de rigeur*measure in mental health. The seven items are each scored 0 to 3 on the same response scale: "Not at all", "Several days", "More than half the days" and "Nearly every day" for a total score from zero to 21. I can't see any guidance about prorating of missing items and it is probably often delivered now through web forms or apps that don't allow non-response.

Two items from it form the GAD-2 ([q.v.](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/gad-2/)) and form half of the PHQ-4 ([q.v.](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/phq-4/)).

#### Try also

- [GAD-2](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/gad-2/)
- [PHQ-4](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/phq-4/)
- [PHQ-9](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9-items/)

#### Chapters

Not covered in the OMbook.

#### Online resources

I think there are many online forms for the GAD-7. Nothing from me!

#### Dates

First created 26.iv.26, tweaks adding relationship to the GAD-2 and PHQ-4 24.v.26.