Implementing the GAD-7 Tool in Primary Care for Improved Detection of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a mental health condition in which a person has excessive worry, fear, dread, and uneasiness (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Sapra et al., 2020; Anxiety and Depression Association of America [ADAA], 2022). The United States has the highest anxiety prevalence rate at 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% receive treatment (O’Connor, 2023; National Institute of Health [NIH], 2023; American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Despite the high prevalence, GAD symptoms are often missed or misdiagnosed, leading to increased delays in starting treatment (Colwell, 2023; ADAA, 2022; NIH, 2022). The purpose of this DNP project was to examine data to determine if implementing the GAD-7 tool results in an increased diagnosis of GAD in the adult population of a Community Health Center (CHC) from June 3 to June 28, 2024. This project investigated the early detection of GAD by screening adults aged 19-64 who visited this CHC. This project sought to answer the question, “Will the use of the GAD-7 screening tool by primary care providers increase the identification of GAD?” Twenty-two primary care providers (PCPs) were recruited via email to participate in the project. An educational PowerPoint presentation was held on GAD-7 to provide an update specifically for primary care providers (PCPs). The project utilized a retrospective chart review and a post-implementation quantitative design to assess the PCPs' use of the GAD-7 tool. This project investigated the early detection of GAD by screening adults aged 19-64 who visited the Community Health Center. This project sought to answer the question, “Will the use of the GAD-7 screening tool by primary care providers increase diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder?” The project utilized a retrospective chart review and a post-implementation quantitative design to assess the PCPs' use of the GAD-7 tool. The pre-intervention phase reviewed 763 patients who were screened by 48 PCPs in the CHC. During the intervention phase, 22 out of 48 PCPs screened for GAD symptoms utilizing the GAD-7 tool in 125 patients in a four-week time frame. In the post-intervention phase, 17 PCPs conducted the screenings, and 38 patients were assessed. The study showed an improvement in the identification of severe GAD in the post-intervention phase.

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Nursing | Psychiatric and Mental Health

Subject Area

Nursing; Mental health; Clinical psychology

Department

Nursing (NUR)

First Advisor

Fairbanks, Clarisse

Second Advisor

Cherubini, Debra

Third Advisor

Stager, Sharon

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

D.N.P.

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