GAD-7 anxiety test online

• Think only about the last two weeks, not about what kind of person you are “in general”.
• Rate the frequency: on how many of the fourteen days each symptom bothered you.
• Mark a symptom even if it has an obvious cause: work, the news, shelling, a loved one’s illness.
• Answer without thinking for too long. The test takes about two minutes.

Each answer gives a certain number of points depending on how often the symptom bothered you. The points add up to a total, and the total sets the level:

• Minimal symptoms of anxiety.
• Mild symptoms: keep an eye on how you feel and repeat the test in 2-4 weeks.
• Moderate symptoms: a consultation with a specialist is recommended.
• Pronounced symptoms: a specialist’s help is needed.

The main line is between mild and moderate symptoms. In the 2006 study, a result at the moderate level or above identified generalised anxiety disorder with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82%. Later studies in psychiatric clinics showed lower specificity. So a high score is a signal to check your state, not a ready conclusion.

A high score may be explained by more than generalised anxiety disorder. Panic disorder, social anxiety, the after-effects of traumatic events, depression, exhaustion and sometimes physical causes, such as thyroid problems, give similar answers. A specialist will help sort it out.

A high score does not always mean an anxiety disorder: long-term stress, exhaustion and personal circumstances can affect the answers. In practice it is important to look not only at the score but also at how anxiety affects a person’s everyday life.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to danger or uncertainty. It helps you pull yourself together and act. A disorder is considered when anxiety:

• does not match the real situation or does not pass when the threat is gone;
• lasts most days for weeks and months;
• gets in the way of sleep, work, rest and contact with people;
• comes with physical symptoms: muscle tension, a racing heart, sleep problems, getting tired quickly.

In generalised anxiety disorder a person worries about many things at once and cannot stop these thoughts. We describe its signs and diagnosis in the article “Generalised anxiety disorder: signs and diagnosis” (article in progress).

See a specialist without waiting to repeat the test if:

• anxiety keeps you awake several nights in a row;
• you have started avoiding places, people or tasks out of fear;
• you have sudden attacks of fear with a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness;
• you calm yourself down more and more often with alcohol, sedatives without a prescription or other substances;
• thoughts of death appear. If there is immediate danger, call 112 or 103.

With a low score, sleep, movement, less news and simple grounding techniques help. Take the test again in 2-4 weeks. If the test showed moderate or pronounced symptoms, or anxiety gets in the way of life at any score, see a specialist.

Anxiety disorders are treatable. According to the World Health Organization, about 5.8% of people in the world have an anxiety disorder, and methods based on cognitive behavioural therapy have the most evidence of effectiveness.

After the test you can choose a Health360 psychologist right away. Consultations are online, and the first 30-minute session is free.

Anxiety and depression often go together. If, besides restlessness, you notice a loss of interest in things and constant tiredness, take the PHQ-9 depression test. If anxiety comes in sudden attacks, check yourself with the panic attack test. All methods are on the online psychological tests page.