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A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7

TLDR
In this article, a 7-item anxiety scale (GAD-7) had good reliability, as well as criterion, construct, factorial, and procedural validity, and increasing scores on the scale were strongly associated with multiple domains of functional impairment.
Abstract
Background Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental disorders; however, there is no brief clinical measure for assessing GAD. The objective of this study was to develop a brief self-report scale to identify probable cases of GAD and evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods A criterion-standard study was performed in 15 primary care clinics in the United States from November 2004 through June 2005. Of a total of 2740 adult patients completing a study questionnaire, 965 patients had a telephone interview with a mental health professional within 1 week. For criterion and construct validity, GAD self-report scale diagnoses were compared with independent diagnoses made by mental health professionals; functional status measures; disability days; and health care use. Results A 7-item anxiety scale (GAD-7) had good reliability, as well as criterion, construct, factorial, and procedural validity. A cut point was identified that optimized sensitivity (89%) and specificity (82%). Increasing scores on the scale were strongly associated with multiple domains of functional impairment (all 6 Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form General Health Survey scales and disability days). Although GAD and depression symptoms frequently co-occurred, factor analysis confirmed them as distinct dimensions. Moreover, GAD and depression symptoms had differing but independent effects on functional impairment and disability. There was good agreement between self-report and interviewer-administered versions of the scale. Conclusion The GAD-7 is a valid and efficient tool for screening for GAD and assessing its severity in clinical practice and research.

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Citations
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The Collateral Damage of Mass Incarceration: Risk of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Nonincarcerated Residents of High-Incarceration Neighborhoods

TL;DR: Investigation of zip code-linked information on neighborhood prison admissions rates to individual-level data on mental health from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study suggested that the public mental health impact of mass incarceration extends beyond those who are incarcerated.
Journal ArticleDOI

The symptoms at the center: Examining the comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression with network analysis.

TL;DR: The results suggest symptoms of depression and GAD are highly interrelated and that PTSD is heterogeneous.
Journal ArticleDOI

Changes in symptoms of depression with weight loss: results of a randomized trial.

TL;DR: Characteristics of obese patients at risk of negative mood changes (and suicidal ideation) in response to behavioral and pharmacologic therapies are identified.
Journal ArticleDOI

Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relations with mental health and quality of life

TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the effectiveness of different coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to help anxiety, depression, and quality of life and found that positive reframing was the most beneficial to improve general well-being.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection.

John E. Ware, +1 more
- 01 Jun 1992 - 
TL;DR: A 36-item short-form survey designed for use in clinical practice and research, health policy evaluations, and general population surveys to survey health status in the Medical Outcomes Study is constructed.
Journal ArticleDOI

The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure.

TL;DR: In addition to making criteria-based diagnoses of depressive disorders, the PHQ-9 is also a reliable and valid measure of depression severity, which makes it a useful clinical and research tool.
Journal ArticleDOI

An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties.

TL;DR: Un nouvel inventaire auto-administre destine a mesurer l'anxiete pathologique, le «Beck Anxiety Cheklist» (BAI) est decrit, evalue et compare au «Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale» (test avec lequel des correlations moderees sont trouvees).
Journal ArticleDOI

The validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale: An updated literature review

TL;DR: HADS was found to perform well in assessing the symptom severity and caseness of anxiety disorders and depression in both somatic, psychiatric and primary care patients and in the general population.
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