Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale – GADS
Measures the severity of worry, coping strategies, avoidance behaviors, and metacognitive beliefs associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale – GADS was developed by Adrian Wells (1997). It is designed to measure Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Metacognition, Worry, Coping, Avoidance. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 29 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Worry Distress and Control, Coping Strategies, Avoidance, Metacognitive Beliefs.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Worry Distress and Control | 1,2 | 2 |
| Coping Strategies | 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | 9 |
| Avoidance | 12,13,14,15,16,17 | 6 |
| Metacognitive Beliefs | 18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 | 12 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all / Do not believe at all, 4 = Moderately / Half of the time, 8 = Extremely / All of the time, 100 = Completely convinced the thought is true (for beliefs section).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.