PSWQ
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire measures the tendency to worry — its excessiveness, generality, and uncontrollability. It's the most widely used measure of trait worry and a common tool in generalized anxiety.
What the PSWQ measures
The PSWQ captures the pathological, hard-to-control quality of worry rather than the content of any particular worry. Respondents rate 16 statements on a 1–5 scale; five items are reverse-scored. It's frequently paired with the GAD-7 when generalized anxiety is the focus.
Who it's for
Adults; an adapted version exists for children (PSWQ-C). It measures worry severity and is not a standalone diagnosis.
Scoring
The 16 items are summed (after reverse-scoring five) for a total of 16–80. Higher scores reflect more severe, less controllable worry; people with generalized anxiety disorder typically score in the high range, often in the 60s.
Severity bands
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 16–39 | Low worry |
| 40–59 | Moderate worry |
| 60–80 | High worry |
Interpreting a single score is only half the picture — knowing when a change is real matters too. See how assessment scoring works for severity bands, cutoffs, and reliable change.
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What is a high PSWQ score?
Scores range from 16 to 80. Roughly, 16–39 is low, 40–59 moderate, and 60–80 high. People with generalized anxiety disorder commonly score in the high range.
What does the PSWQ measure?
It measures trait worry — how excessive, generalized, and uncontrollable a person's worrying is — rather than anxiety symptoms in general or the content of specific worries.
This page is educational. Validated measures are screening and monitoring tools, not diagnoses — interpret every score in clinical context.