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GAD-2 Anxiety Screener
The GAD-2 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2) is a two-question screen for anxiety that asks about feeling nervous or on edge and being unable to stop worrying over the past two weeks. These are the first two questions of the GAD-7.
It takes under a minute and is often paired with the PHQ-2 as a quick mood and anxiety check. Your answers are scored in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Before you start: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Whatever number you get, it belongs in a conversation with a professional who knows you.
Completely private: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored anywhere.
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Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Your score
One of your answers matters on its own, whatever the total: the question about thoughts of death or of hurting yourself. The support lines above are for you, and it’s worth mentioning that answer specifically to whoever you share this with.
A score is a snapshot, not a verdict on you. Whatever the number, the most useful next step is the same: share it with a professional who can help you make sense of it.
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How to take the GAD-2
- Think about the past two weeks.
- Answer both questions by choosing how often each problem has bothered you.
- Read your score from 0 to 6.
- If your score is 3 or higher, take the full GAD-7 and talk with a health professional.
What the GAD-2 measures
The two items ask how often you have felt nervous, anxious, or on edge, and how often you have not been able to stop or control worrying. These are core features of anxiety, so they make an efficient first-pass screen.
How the GAD-2 is scored
Each item is rated 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days), or 3 (nearly every day), for a total from 0 to 6.
A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen. The next step is the full GAD-7, which adds five more symptoms and gives a severity band.
What your score means
A score below 3 means these two symptoms have not been frequent lately. A score of 3 or more means it is worth taking the full GAD-7 and talking with a health professional about what you have been experiencing.
Limits of a screening test
Two questions cannot capture every form of anxiety. A low score does not rule out an anxiety disorder if other symptoms, such as panic attacks or fear of social situations, are troubling you. A positive score is not a diagnosis, only a signal that a fuller assessment is warranted.
Using the GAD-2 in your practice
The GAD-2 fits universal screening at intake or routine visits, often alongside the PHQ-2. Treat a score of 3 or more as a positive screen and follow it with the full GAD-7. For tracking severity over the course of treatment, use the GAD-7 rather than the GAD-2.
Document the score, whether the screen was positive, and the follow-up given. CPT 96127 is commonly used for brief standardized screening instruments, though coverage varies by payer.
Common questions
What is the GAD-2 cutoff score?
The GAD-2 is scored 0 to 6, with each of its two items rated 0 to 3. A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen for anxiety. A positive result is not a diagnosis. It means the person should complete the full GAD-7 and, ideally, talk with a clinician.
Should I take the GAD-2 or the GAD-7?
The GAD-2 is a quick first check using the first two GAD-7 questions. The GAD-7 covers seven symptoms and gives a severity band from minimal to severe. If you already have concerns about anxiety, or your GAD-2 score is 3 or more, the GAD-7 gives a more complete picture.
Is the GAD-2 a diagnosis of anxiety?
No. The GAD-2 is a two-question screen. A positive result means a fuller assessment is warranted, and a negative result does not rule out an anxiety disorder if other symptoms are present. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose an anxiety disorder after a proper evaluation.
Is the GAD-2 free to use?
Yes. The GAD-2 comes from the GAD-7, developed by Drs. Robert Spitzer, Janet Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues with an educational grant from Pfizer. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute it, and there is no license fee.
How often should the GAD-2 be given?
The GAD-2 is mainly used for routine screening, such as at intake, at annual visits, or when a new concern comes up. It asks about the past two weeks. Once someone screens positive or is in treatment for anxiety, the full GAD-7 is the better tool for repeated measurement.
Often given alongside
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. If your score worries you, or if you didn't need a questionnaire to tell you something is wrong, please talk to a professional. In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), around the clock.
Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
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