Self-check screens like the GAD-7 (anxiety) and PHQ-9 (depression) do not produce a vague "high" or "low." Each is a short questionnaire with a fixed total score, and clinicians use published cutoff bands to interpret that number. Knowing the bands helps you read your own score the way a professional would — as a severity signal, not a diagnosis.

*This page explains how clinicians interpret these validated instruments. It is for education and self-awareness only and is not medical or psychological advice, nor a substitute for professional evaluation.*

The GAD-7: Anxiety Severity Bands

The GAD-7 asks seven questions about anxiety over the past two weeks. Each is scored 0-3, for a total of 0-21. The widely used cutoff bands (Spitzer et al., 2006) are:

Total ScoreSeverity BandWhat it generally indicates
0-4MinimalFew or no anxiety symptoms
5-9MildSubthreshold anxiety; monitoring and self-care often appropriate
10-14ModerateSymptoms likely affecting daily life; consider professional support
15-21SevereMarked anxiety; professional evaluation recommended

A score of 10 or higher on the GAD-7 has been shown to have strong sensitivity and specificity for generalized anxiety disorder in primary-care validation samples (Spitzer et al., 2006).

The PHQ-9: Depression Severity Bands

The PHQ-9 asks nine questions about depression over the past two weeks, also scored 0-3 each, for a total of 0-27 (Kroenke et al., 2001):

Total ScoreSeverity BandWhat it generally indicates
0-4MinimalFew or no depressive symptoms
5-9MildSubthreshold depression; self-care and monitoring
10-14ModerateSymptoms likely warranting active treatment
15-19Moderately severeTreatment strongly recommended
20-27SevereTreatment urgently recommended

One item matters more than its point value: PHQ-9 item 9 asks about thoughts of self-harm. Any non-zero answer on that item is a clinical "flag" regardless of total score and should prompt immediate professional attention.

What the Bands Do and Do Not Tell You

  • They are thresholds, not boundaries. A score of 9 and a score of 10 are clinically close; the band is a guideline, not a cliff.
  • They assume honest self-report. A bad week, poor sleep, or a recent stressor can shift a score.
  • They screen, they do not diagnose. A high score indicates that a condition is plausible and worth evaluating — it does not confirm a disorder. Formal diagnosis requires a clinical interview.
  • They work best as a trend. A rising score over time is often more meaningful than a single number.

When a Score Should Prompt Care

Reach out to a licensed mental health professional if any of these apply:

  • Your GAD-7 is 10 or higher, or your PHQ-9 is 10 or higher.
  • Any PHQ-9 item 9 answer is non-zero.
  • Symptoms last most days for two weeks or more.
  • You are worried about your own wellbeing.

If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact 988 (US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) right away, or visit our Mental Health Help (US) page for confidential support lines.

Sources

  • Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, et al. "A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder." *Arch Intern Med.* 2006;166(10):1092-1097.
  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. "The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure." *J Gen Intern Med.* 2001;16(9):606-613.
  • CDC, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) — GAD-7 and PHQ-9 used as standard screening instruments.