Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2025
Document Type
DNP Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Kimberly Hatchel
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide and the most prevalent mental illness in the United States. Despite affecting 6.8 million adults annually, fewer than half with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) receive treatment. Many patients present with somatic complaints, leading to underdetection. Standardized screening tools such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item (GAD-7) can improve identification and outcomes.
Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project implemented the GAD-7 screening tool in an adult outpatient psychiatric clinic in North Texas and evaluated its impact on identifying patients with GAD, compared to the prior year without structured screening.
Methods: A pre- and post-intervention design was used. Patients aged 18 years and older presenting for initial psychiatric evaluation and follow-up appointments between May and July 2025 were screened with the GAD-7. Outcomes were compared to those of patients seen during the same period in 2024 when no screening tool was used. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed. The project coordinator trained medical assistants in GAD-7 administration and interpretation, with knowledge assessed by pre- and post-tests.
Results: The comparison (n = 273) and intervention (n = 272) groups were demographically similar. GAD-7 screening completion was 100% in the intervention group versus 0% in the comparison group. GAD diagnoses were significantly higher in the intervention group (31.6% vs. 11.4%; p < .001), particularly at initial evaluation (13.6% vs. 7.0%; p = .011). No significant difference was observed at follow-ups within 45 days of initial evaluation (p = .316). Conclusion: Implementation of the GAD-7 significantly improved GAD identification, particularly at the initial evaluation. These findings support incorporating standardized screening into routine psychiatric practice to enhance early detection and treatment initiation.
Keywords
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-7, anxiety screening tool, adults, early identification, psychiatric patients
Disciplines
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
George, Elizabath, "Implementing the GAD-7 Screening Tool in an Adult Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 112.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/nursing_dnpprojects/112