Validation of the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 self-rating Scale

Abstract

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. The GAD-7 was standardized with data from 112 patients at a psychiatric outpatient clinic. The GAD-7 revealed high internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. The ROC analysis resulted in poor sensitivity and specificity for detecting anxiety disorders in a psychiatric setting. The GAD-7 may not be useful in diagnosing anxiety disorders in a psychiatric setting, even though it appears to be a reliable, efficient, and valid measurement tool for evaluating anxiety symptoms.