Which statement best describes a validated brief screening tool for anxiety disorders in primary care?

Which statement best describes a validated brief screening tool for anxiety disorders in primary care?

• A. HADS-A is commonly used in primary care.
• B. GAD-7 is a widely used brief screen.
• C. PHQ-9 is a screening tool for anxiety.
• D. MMPI-2 is used for anxiety screening.

Answer: (B)

The best choice describes the GAD-7, a seven-item, self-administered questionnaire designed for rapid screening of anxiety symptoms in primary care. It asks about how often you’ve been bothered by common anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks and items are scored 0 to 3, giving a total score from 0 to 21. It has been validated in primary care populations, showing good sensitivity and specificity for identifying probable anxiety disorders and for gauging severity. Its brevity—usually taking about two minutes—makes it practical for busy clinics, flagging patients who likely have an anxiety problem and who should receive further evaluation or treatment. While other tools exist, such as HADS-A, MMPI-2, and PHQ-9, the GAD-7 is the most widely used brief screen specifically recommended for primary care due to its strong evidence base and ease of use. The PHQ-9 is primarily a depression screen, not an anxiety screen, and the MMPI-2 is a long, full-length personality assessment not suited for quick screening; HADS-A is used in medical settings but is not as widely adopted for routine primary care anxiety screening.

The best choice describes the GAD-7, a seven-item, self-administered questionnaire designed for rapid screening of anxiety symptoms in primary care. It asks about how often you’ve been bothered by common anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks and items are scored 0 to 3, giving a total score from 0 to 21. It has been validated in primary care populations, showing good sensitivity and specificity for identifying probable anxiety disorders and for gauging severity. Its brevity—usually taking about two minutes—makes it practical for busy clinics, flagging patients who likely have an anxiety problem and who should receive further evaluation or treatment. While other tools exist, such as HADS-A, MMPI-2, and PHQ-9, the GAD-7 is the most widely used brief screen specifically recommended for primary care due to its strong evidence base and ease of use. The PHQ-9 is primarily a depression screen, not an anxiety screen, and the MMPI-2 is a long, full-length personality assessment not suited for quick screening; HADS-A is used in medical settings but is not as widely adopted for routine primary care anxiety screening.