About this screening · Anxiety · GAD-7
I feel excessive fear or anxiety
Anxiety is a normal response to pressure — before an exam, a presentation or a difficult conversation. It becomes worth looking at when the worry is hard to control, shows up most days, and starts getting in the way of sleep, concentration or the things you would normally do.
This screening uses the GAD-7, a seven-question tool used in clinics and research worldwide. It takes about two minutes and asks how often, over the last two weeks, you have felt nervous, on edge, restless or unable to stop worrying.
Start the screeningAnonymous. No name, no sign-up. A few minutes.
About the GAD-7
The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) is a short self-report tool for identifying symptoms of anxiety, aligned with the diagnostic criteria for generalised anxiety disorder in the DSM.
It asks you to reflect on how often you have experienced specific anxiety-related symptoms over the previous two weeks. Because its wording is plain, it suits adolescents of 14 and older as well as adults.
A total of 10 or above indicates a high likelihood of generalised anxiety disorder, with strong sensitivity (89%) and specificity (82%). An elevated score may also reflect panic disorder, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress.
How it is scored
- Each of the 7 items is scored 0–3: not at all 0, several days 1, more than half the days 2, nearly every day 3.
- The GAD-7 total is the sum of all 7 items, to a maximum of 21. The GAD-2 total is the sum of the first 2 items, to a maximum of 6.
- Bands: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–21 severe. The screen is positive if GAD-7 ≥ 10 or GAD-2 ≥ 3.
Source. Informed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) framework, which is the reference for the question design and the scoring method.
What the result means
A screening result is not a diagnosis. It tells you whether your answers resemble a pattern that is worth discussing with a professional.
Two people with the same score can be in very different situations, and only a qualified clinician can assess yours.
Where to get help
The Health and Counseling Center at Hamad Bin Khalifa University offers confidential counseling to the HBKU community. You do not need a screening result to get in touch.