Clinician or parent? Hand your device over with the score hidden, or send the test to their phone.
9 questions · about 3–5 minutes
For each one, pick the answer that fits you best over the past two weeks. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is saved or sent unless you choose to email the results. This screening tool is for educational and self-awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately by calling or texting 988.
- Questions
- 9
- Time
- 3–5 min
- Looks back over
- The past two weeks
- Score range
- 0–27
- Cost
- Free
What the PHQ-9 measures
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia)
- Fatigue and low energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Concentration difficulties
- Psychomotor changes (restlessness or slowness)
- Suicidal ideation
The history of the PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 grew out of PRIME-MD, a tool Drs. Spitzer, Williams and Kroenke built in the early 1990s to help primary care doctors spot common mental health conditions. PRIME-MD needed a clinician to interview the patient, which took time most appointments did not have. So the team rewrote it as a questionnaire patients could fill out on their own, the Patient Health Questionnaire, published in 1999.
Its nine depression questions became the PHQ-9. The validation study, published in 2001, tested it with 6,000 patients in primary care and obstetrics and gynecology clinics. A score of 10 or more picked up major depression with 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity, which is about as good as a nine-question form gets.
The work was funded by an educational grant from Pfizer, which holds the copyright and lets anyone use, copy and translate the PHQ-9 for free. That is a large part of why it spread. It now appears in primary care offices, hospitals and therapy practices worldwide, is built into most electronic health records, and has been translated into dozens of languages. Its first two questions on their own make up the PHQ-2, a 30-second pre-screen.
How it is used today
The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, and Kurt Kroenke and is based on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, written against the DSM-IV and unchanged in the DSM-5. It is one of the most widely validated depression screening instruments in clinical practice, with extensive research supporting its reliability across diverse populations.
Each question corresponds to one of the nine DSM criteria for major depressive disorder. The total score helps clinicians gauge symptom severity and track changes over time during treatment. The PHQ-9 is not a diagnostic tool on its own but serves as an effective first step in identifying individuals who may benefit from further clinical evaluation.
How the PHQ-9 is scored
- Every question is answered on the same scale, from "Not at all" (0 points) to "Nearly every day" (3 points).
- The answers are added together for a total from 0 to 27.
- For example, answering "Several days" to all 9 questions gives 1 × 9 = 9, which falls in the Mild Depression range.
PHQ-9 score ranges
The ranges this quiz uses to label a score. They describe where a score falls, not a diagnosis.
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Minimal Depression | 0–4 |
| Mild Depression | 5–9 |
| Moderate Depression | 10–14 |
| Moderately Severe Depression | 15–19 |
| Severe Depression | 20–27 |
How to read the results
- It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. The score describes the past two weeks, and a label only says where that falls compared with the people the questionnaire was tested on. A word like "mild" does not mean a mild disorder.
- Look at the answers, not only the total. Which questions scored highest often says more about what to work on than the number does.
- Compare with yourself over time. Taking it again in a few weeks, or after starting therapy, shows whether things are moving. Compare each score with your own earlier one, not with someone else's.
- Talk it through. A clinician will ask what no questionnaire can: how long it has been like this, what else is going on, and how much it gets in the way.
- The safety question counts on its own. Question 9 asks about thoughts of death or self-harm. Any answer other than "Not at all" matters whatever the total, and is worth raising with a professional straight away. If you are having those thoughts now, call or text 988.
The PHQ-9 compared with similar tests
| Test | Screens for | Questions | Looks back over | Asks about suicide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 (this page) | Depression | 9 | The past two weeks | Yes |
| EPDS | Depression in pregnancy and after birth | 10 | The past seven days | Yes |
| CESD-R | Depression, as a community screen | 20 | The past two weeks | Yes |
| HAM-D | Depression, including physical symptoms | 17 | The past week | Yes |
| MADRS | Depression, and how it changes in treatment | 10 | The past week | Yes |
| GAD-7 | Generalized anxiety | 7 | The past two weeks | No |
| OCI-R | Obsessions and compulsions | 18 | The past month | No |
| HAM-A | Anxiety, including physical symptoms | 14 | The past week | No |
| DASS-21 | Depression, anxiety and stress, scored separately | 21 | The past week | No |
Using the PHQ-9 with clients
- Baseline, then repeat. Give it at intake, then at regular intervals, and compare each score with the client's own earlier ones to see whether treatment is working.
- Hand to client. Give it on your own device in session. The questions fill the screen with nothing else on it, and the scores stay hidden until you take the device back and press Show results.
- Send to someone. Send a link before the session by text or email. Tick "Ask for a copy of their results" and their results page offers to email you their score. They decide whether to send it. Your address travels in the link itself and never reaches our servers.
- Copy summary and Print. The results screen copies a one-line summary for the session note, or prints the results on their own.
- Nothing is stored. Answers stay in the browser. Results leave it only when someone chooses to email them, and that email is not kept.
- Billing. Giving and scoring a standardized instrument like the PHQ-9 is commonly billed as CPT 96127, one unit per instrument. Payers set their own limits, so check before relying on it.
Diagnosis codes often documented for this concern
For reference only. A screening score is not a diagnosis, and none of these follows from a score on its own.
- F32.0 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Mild
- F32.1 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Moderate
- F32.2 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Severe
- F32.3 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Severe with Psychotic Features
- F32.9 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Unspecified
- F33.0 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Mild
- F33.1 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate
- F33.2 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe
- F33.3 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe with Psychotic Features
- F33.9 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Unspecified
- F34.1 Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- F43.21 Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood
- F53.0 Postpartum Depression
Where to go from here
- Depression Therapy at Crown Counseling · in Brooklyn and online across New York
- Free resources for therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PHQ-9?+
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a validated, 9-item self-report screening tool used to assess the severity of depression. It is based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and is widely used in primary care and mental health settings worldwide.
How accurate is the PHQ-9?+
The PHQ-9 has been extensively validated with sensitivity and specificity of approximately 88% for detecting major depression at a cutoff score of 10. However, it is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A clinical evaluation is needed for formal diagnosis.
How is the PHQ-9 scored?+
Each of the 9 questions is scored 0-3, giving a total score range of 0-27. Scores of 0-4 indicate minimal depression, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, and 20-27 severe depression.
Can I use the PHQ-9 to diagnose myself?+
No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool that helps identify possible depression. Only a qualified mental health professional can make a clinical diagnosis after a thorough evaluation.
How often should I take the PHQ-9?+
If you're in treatment, your clinician may administer the PHQ-9 at each visit to track progress. For self-monitoring, taking it every 2-4 weeks can help you notice trends in your symptoms.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-613.
- Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Kroenke K, et al. Utility of a new procedure for diagnosing mental disorders in primary care: the PRIME-MD 1000 study. JAMA. 1994;272(22):1749-1756.
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB. Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. JAMA. 1999;282(18):1737-1744.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). 2013.
- Manea L, Gilbody S, McMillan D. Optimal cut-off score for diagnosing depression with the PHQ-9. CMAJ. 2012;184(3):E191-E196.
- Löwe B, Unützer J, Callahan CM, et al. Monitoring depression treatment outcomes with the PHQ-9. Med Care. 2004;42(12):1194-1201.