Scale Overview
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment – GAD-7 was developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, Janet B. W. Williams, Bernd Löwe (2006). It is designed to measure Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The scale is intended for use with Individuals aged 14 years and older.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 7 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half the days, 3 = Nearly every day.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 21. Interpretation guidelines:
- Minimal anxiety: 0 – 4
- Mild anxiety: 5 – 9
- Moderate anxiety: 10 – 14
- Severe anxiety: 15 – 21
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.89.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.