We all worry. We worry about bills, our health, or that weird noise the car is making. Worry is a normal function of the human brain—it’s how we anticipate problems.
But for some of us, the “worry engine” gets stuck in the ON position. It runs in the background 24/7, draining our battery and making it impossible to relax.
How do you know if your worry is just a personality quirk or a sign of a medical condition like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
The Science: The Core of Anxiety
The GAD-2 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2) is the “little brother” of the famous GAD-7 test.
Doctors love it because it is incredibly efficient. Instead of asking about every physical symptom of anxiety (like sweating or shaking), it cuts straight to the psychological core:
- Feeling nervous/anxious/on edge.
- Not being able to stop or control worrying.
Research published in the Annals of Family Medicine shows that these two questions alone are surprisingly powerful. If you answer “Not at all” to both, there is a 96%+ chance you do not have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is one of the most effective “rule-out” tools in medicine.
The Tool: GAD-2
This test takes literally 30 seconds. It asks you to rate the frequency of these feelings over the last two weeks.
👉 Take the Test: GAD-2 Brief Anxiety Screen
What To Do With Your Score
The GAD-2 is scored out of 6.
- Score < 3 (Negative Screen): Your anxiety levels are likely within the normal range. You might be stressed, but you probably aren’t suffering from a clinical disorder.
- Score ≥ 3 (Positive Screen): This is the clinical cut-off. It suggests that anxiety is playing a significant role in your life right now.
- Next Steps: If you screened positive (3 or higher), we highly recommend taking the full GAD-7 (coming soon) or the PHQ-4 to get a more detailed picture. It is also a good prompt to discuss your “worry engine” with a doctor.
Safety & Disclaimer
This tool is for educational purposes only.
- Not a Diagnosis: A positive score is a risk indicator, not a formal medical diagnosis.
- Emergency: If anxiety is causing you to feel like you can’t breathe or is leading to panic attacks, please seek medical attention.
References
- Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B., Monahan, P. O., & Löwe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annals of Internal Medicine.
- Plummer, F., Manea, L., Trepel, D., & McMillan, D. (2016). Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry.
- Wild, B., et al. (2014). A short screen for generalized anxiety disorder: The validity of the GAD-2. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.