Evaluate anxiety symptoms using the most common and validated scale - based on diagnostic criteria described in DSM-IV.

The GAD-7 is a brief measure of symptoms of anxiety, based on diagnostic criteria described in DSM-IV. It consists of seven questions and is calculated by assigning scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3, to the response categories of "not at all", "several days", "more than half the days," and "nearly every day," respectively. GAD-7 total score for the seven items ranges from 0 to 21. Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent cutpoints for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively.

Though designed primarily as a screening and severity measure for generalized anxiety disorder, the GAD-7 also has moderately good operating characteristics for three other common anxiety disorders – panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. When screening for anxiety disorders, a recommended cutpoint for further evaluation is a score of 10 or greater.