Cross-cultural validity of the generalized anxiety disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7): a systematic review and standardized assessment.

AIMS: The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) is a brief self-reported measure for screening for anxiety symptoms. However, the evidence about its cross-cultural validity is fragmentary and usually focused on specific settings. Therefore, we aimed to critically review and synthesize the existing evidence about the cross-cultural validity of the GAD-7.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing the cross-cultural validity of the GAD-7 in following the PRISMA guidelines. Additionally, the quality of the studies was assessed following the COSMIN guidelines, and the quality of the evidence was assessed with the GRADE. Data were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

Out of 1,965 unique records, 9 unique studies were deemed eligible for the COSMIN appraisal and the narrative synthesis (total sample: 11,894, 53.7% females and 20 different cultural groups). Most studies (7) had adequate quality and showed evidenced of the unitary structure of the GAD-7 across cultural groups. In 4 studies also assessing possible cultural bias, the effect on the general score was deemed negligible.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence about the cross-cultural validity of the GAD-7 is very limited. Although more research is needed, the evidence available shows that the GAD-7 could be a cross-culturally valid tool for the assessment of anxiety symptoms in clinical contexts and epidemiological studies. Until new high-quality evidence will be available, these results would constitute a key first step for supporting the use of the GAD-7 in multi-cultural clinical settings and to inform clinical, public health and global health decision making in relation to anxiety.