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PHQ-9 Depression Screening

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems? Pick exactly one answer per question. Your total score (0–27) and severity band will appear automatically.

Reference period: the past 2 weeks. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool — not a medical diagnosis.

0 / 9

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things

2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much

4. Feeling tired or having little energy

5. Poor appetite or overeating

6. Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down

7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television

8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or the opposite — being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual

9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way

Answer all 9 questions to see your PHQ-9 score.

Severity bands

Minimal

Symptoms minimal — keep monitoring

0 – 4
Mild

Symptoms mild — self-care, re-test in 2–4 weeks

5 – 9
Moderate

Consult a healthcare professional

10 – 14
Moderately severe

Seek professional help promptly

15 – 19
Severe

Active treatment strongly recommended

20 – 27

How it works

The PHQ-9 was developed and validated by Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams (J Gen Intern Med, 2001). Nine items, each scored 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day), sum to 0–27. A cutoff of 10 has the best balance of sensitivity (88 %) and specificity (88 %) for major depression and is widely used as a referral threshold. Item 9 asks directly about thoughts of self-harm — any positive answer warrants immediate attention, regardless of the total score.

This is a screening tool, not a medical diagnosis. If your score is 10 or above, you answered the self-harm question with anything other than “Not at all”, or you have concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the PHQ-9 measure?+
The PHQ-9 screens for depression by asking how often you have been bothered by nine core symptoms over the last 2 weeks. It is one of the most widely used depression tools in primary care and mental-health settings.
What do the score bands mean?+
0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe depression symptoms. A score of 10 or more is the commonly used cutoff that warrants further clinical evaluation.
Is the PHQ-9 a diagnosis?+
No. The PHQ-9 is a screening and severity tool — not a diagnosis. A clinician confirms or rules out depression using a full evaluation, your history and clinical judgement.
What does question 9 about self-harm mean?+
Item 9 asks about thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself. Any answer other than “Not at all” means you should seek help immediately — contact your local emergency services or a crisis line right now, regardless of your total score.
How often should I take the PHQ-9?+
It works well as a baseline and then every 2–4 weeks during treatment or when symptoms change. Trends across multiple tests are more meaningful than a single value.
Should I take the PHQ-9 together with the GAD-7?+
Often, yes. Depression and anxiety frequently occur together, so clinicians regularly use the PHQ-9 for depression and the GAD-7 for anxiety side by side to get a fuller picture.

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Background

PHQ-9 Depression Test: Screening for Depression — Score & Bands

9 min