Quick Answer
GAD-7 scoring adds seven answers, each worth 0 to 3 points, for a total from 0 to 21. Dartmouth Health's scoring guide uses cut points of 5, 10 and 15 for mild, moderate and severe anxiety, and recommends further evaluation at 10 or above. The score supports, but doesn't replace, a clinical evaluation.
How the GAD-7 works
The GAD-7 asks how often, over the last two weeks, you’ve been bothered by seven problems: feeling nervous or on edge, not being able to stop worrying, worrying too much about different things, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and feeling afraid something awful might happen. Each answer runs from “not at all” (0) to “nearly every day” (3). This guide is part of Dr. Farkas's New York anxiety resources.
Dartmouth Health’s GAD-7 scoring guide explains that scores of 5, 10 and 15 are the cut points for mild, moderate and severe anxiety, and that further evaluation is recommended at 10 or greater. At that threshold, the scale has a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% for generalized anxiety disorder. It was developed as a screening and severity tool, not a diagnostic test.
For New Yorkers who wonder whether their worry has crossed into an anxiety disorder, a GAD-7 score is often the first concrete step. The NYC Health Department‘s 2024 report on the mental health of New Yorkers estimated that about 1,243,000 adult New Yorkers, roughly 18%, have been diagnosed with anxiety. Secure video visits anywhere in New York can make it easier to start care without a commute or a long search.
GAD-7 cut points, the difference between mild moderate severe anxiety, and tracking anxiety over time are the three ideas this guide covers.
Why a number helps
Anxiety can be hard to describe. People often say they feel “a bit better” or “about the same” without being sure. A GAD-7 score puts a consistent number on symptoms, so changes are easier to see. It also gives you and your clinician a shared starting point. Many people find it reassuring to watch the score fall as treatment takes hold. When scores don’t move, that’s useful information too.
Many people take the GAD-7 for the first time at a primary care visit, often without knowing what happens to the score. It’s worth asking for your number and what it means. Keeping it gives you a starting point to compare against later.
Key Takeaways
- The GAD-7 has seven items, each scored 0 to 3, for a total of 0 to 21.
- Scores of 5, 10 and 15 mark mild, moderate and severe anxiety, per Dartmouth Health's scoring guide.
- At a cutoff of 10, the GAD-7 has 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for generalized anxiety disorder.
- It also screens moderately well for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and PTSD.
What scores usually mean
| Score | Severity | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | Minimal | Monitor; recheck if symptoms change |
| 5 to 9 | Mild | Self-care, therapy, recheck in a few weeks |
| 10 to 14 | Moderate | Clinical evaluation recommended |
| 15 to 21 | Severe | Prompt evaluation and treatment planning |
Beyond generalized anxiety
Dartmouth Health’s guide notes the GAD-7 is moderately good at screening for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and PTSD too. A high score is a reason to look closer, not a final answer. Our guides on the panic severity scale and measurement-based anxiety care cover related topics.
Anxiety screening for New York patients
Scales can be completed online before video visits. Visits run by secure video anywhere in New York, while you’re physically in the state. The practice is in-network with Aetna and Cigna; confirm your New York plan with the office, and see self-pay fees on the Good Faith Estimate page.
What can raise a score
- Poor sleep or a stressful week
- Caffeine, alcohol or cannabis
- Thyroid or other medical problems
- Depression alongside anxiety
- Medication side effects
Your clinician considers these before drawing conclusions from a single score.
Answering honestly
There are no right or wrong answers on the GAD-7. Some people underreport to seem fine, while others answer based on a single hard day. Think about the whole two-week period. If your score doesn’t match how you feel, say so, since your description matters as much as the number. The goal is an accurate picture, not a particular score.
What the seven questions cover
Three items focus on worry itself: feeling nervous, not being able to stop worrying, and worrying about many different things. The others cover tension and its effects: trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability and a sense that something awful might happen. Because the questions cover both thoughts and body tension, the score reflects how anxiety is affecting you overall. An eighth question asks how difficult these problems have made work, home life or relationships.
When to act on a score
A score of 10 or more is a good reason to book an evaluation, especially if it has stayed high for several weeks. Any score that comes with thoughts of self-harm needs immediate help through 988. Lower scores still deserve attention if anxiety is limiting your life. Scores are a guide, and your experience decides what matters. Your clinician can help you decide on next steps.
The Bottom Line
GAD-7 Scoring and Interpretation is common and treatable, and careful care can make daily life feel more manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my GAD-7 score mean?
Your GAD-7 total runs from 0 to 21, based on how often you've had seven common anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. Dartmouth Health's scoring guide treats 5 to 9 as mild, 10 to 14 as moderate and 15 to 21 as severe anxiety. A score of 10 or more is a common signal to seek a fuller evaluation. The number is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis. Your clinician looks at the whole picture.
Is a GAD-7 score of 10 serious?
A score of 10 falls in the moderate range and is the usual threshold for recommending further evaluation. At that cutoff, the GAD-7 correctly identifies most people with generalized anxiety disorder, with 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity. It doesn't mean something is wrong beyond help. It means your symptoms are frequent enough to deserve attention. Treatment for moderate anxiety often works well.
Can the GAD-7 diagnose an anxiety disorder?
No, the GAD-7 is a screening and severity tool, not a diagnostic test. A diagnosis comes from a clinical interview that looks at how long symptoms have lasted, what triggers them and how they affect your life. Other conditions, like thyroid problems, depression or substance use, can raise scores too. The scale helps focus the evaluation. It also helps track progress once treatment starts.
How often should I retake the GAD-7?
During active treatment, many clinicians repeat the GAD-7 at each follow-up, often every few weeks. Once you're stable, it may be checked less often, such as at routine reviews. Taking it under similar conditions each time makes scores easier to compare. A single bad week can raise a score temporarily. Trends over several checks tell more than one number.
Does the GAD-7 screen for panic attacks?
Dartmouth Health's scoring guide notes the GAD-7 is moderately good at screening for panic disorder, as well as social anxiety disorder and PTSD. It isn't built specifically for panic, so a separate panic scale may be used if attacks are the main problem. Your clinician will ask directly about panic episodes. Describing when attacks happen helps. Our panic severity scale guide explains that tool.
Can I complete the GAD-7 before a video visit in New York?
Yes, rating scales like the GAD-7 can be completed online or during a secure video visit from anywhere in New York. Your clinician reviews the score with you and compares it with earlier results. You need to be physically in New York during the visit itself. Keeping a copy of your scores helps you see progress. Honest answers make the tool more useful.
Where to go from here
- Right now, if you're not safe
- Call or text 988, or call 911.
- If you'd like an evaluation
- See how scheduling and telehealth work on the new patient page.
- If you want to keep reading
- Return to our full set of New York anxiety guides for more guides. For more help preparing and finding care, see NIMH’s tips for talking with your health care provider.
How We Reviewed This Page
Written by Steven Lockhart of Health Marketing Group and clinically reviewed by Gabriella I. Farkas, MD PhD, a board-certified psychiatrist. Clinical information comes from the sources listed below, and the page is reviewed every 180 days or when guidance changes.
What’s new: September 29, 2026. Page published.
References
- Dartmouth Health. GAD-7 Anxiety Scale and scoring. https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/gad-7-anxiety-scale.pdf
- National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What You Need to Know. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
- NYC Health Department. The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers (2024). https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/mh/state-of-mental-health-new-yorkers.pdf
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
- Tips for talking with your health care provider. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/tips-for-talking-with-your-health-care-provider