Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire – WAQ
A self-report screening tool designed to assess the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire – WAQ was developed by Michel J. Dugas, Marc H. Freeston, Caroline Doucet, Serge Lachance, Robert Ladouceur (2001). It is designed to measure Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symptoms and worry. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Worry Cognitive Features, Somatic Symptoms, Interference.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Worry Cognitive Features | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Somatic Symptoms | 4,5,6,7,8,9 | 6 |
| Interference | 10 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all / Never / No difficulty, 2 = Mildly / Some days / Mild difficulty, 3 = Moderately / Day out of 2 / Moderate difficulty, 4 = Severely / Most days / Severe difficulty, 5 = Totally / Everyday / Extreme difficulty / Very severely.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Minimal Anxiety: 10 – 20
- Mild Anxiety: 21 – 30
- Moderate Anxiety: 31 – 40
- Severe Anxiety: 41 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha = 0.84 – 0.91.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.