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If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) immediately. This tool is for educational and screening purposes only — it is not a diagnosis.

PHQ-9 Depression Screening

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This tool is for educational and screening purposes only. It does NOT constitute a medical diagnosis, and your results should be reviewed by a qualified healthcare provider. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) immediately. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used and rigorously validated tools for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring depressive disorder severity in clinical and research settings. Originally derived from the full PRIME-MD instrument by Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams (2001), the PHQ-9 directly maps to the 9 DSM diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Each item is scored 0–3 based on frequency over the past two weeks, yielding a total score from 0 to 27 that classifies severity into five bands: Minimal (0–4), Mild (5–9), Moderate (10–14), Moderately Severe (15–19), and Severe (20–27). It has been validated across primary care, outpatient psychiatric, and community settings in dozens of languages and populations.

Quick Answer

The PHQ-9 scores 9 symptoms of depression on a 0–3 scale for the past two weeks (total 0–27). Scores of 0–4 indicate minimal symptoms; 5–9 mild; 10–14 moderate; 15–19 moderately severe; 20–27 severe. Any score above 0 on question 9 (self-harm) warrants immediate clinical attention regardless of total score.

These results are estimates based on general formulas and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions.

These results are estimates based on general formulas and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions.

Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by each of the following problems? Select one answer per question. Your answers are not stored or transmitted anywhere.

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 wayCrisis screening item
Running total0 / 27

How the Formula Works

  1. For each of the 9 questions, select how often the problem has bothered you over the past two weeks.

    0 = Not at all | 1 = Several days | 2 = More than half the days | 3 = Nearly every day

  2. Sum all 9 item scores to obtain the total PHQ-9 score.

    Total Score = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + Q5 + Q6 + Q7 + Q8 + Q9 (range: 0–27)

  3. Classify total score into severity band.

    0–4 = Minimal | 5–9 = Mild | 10–14 = Moderate | 15–19 = Moderately Severe | 20–27 = Severe

  4. Evaluate Question 9 independently — any score > 0 triggers an immediate clinical safety flag regardless of total score.

  5. Consider functional impairment: the PHQ-9 is often paired with a functional impairment question ("How difficult have these problems made it to do your work, care for things at home, or get along with other people?") in clinical settings.

Methodology & Sources

Reviewed and updated April 5, 2026 · Prepared by GetHealthyCalculators Editorial Team

This tool implements the validated PHQ-9 as published by Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams (2001) in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The PHQ-9 is derived from the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) instrument and aligns with DSM criteria for major depressive disorder. Severity thresholds follow the original validation study and subsequent meta-analyses. The tool does not implement functional impairment assessment (the optional 10th item) — clinical assessment is required for complete evaluation.

References

Limitations & Important Disclaimers

  • This tool is for educational and screening purposes only. It does NOT constitute a clinical diagnosis of depression or any other mental health condition.
  • The PHQ-9 is a self-report instrument subject to recall bias, social desirability bias, and variability in symptom interpretation.
  • Scores above threshold do not confirm major depressive disorder — full clinical evaluation by a licensed mental health professional is required.
  • The PHQ-9 may not adequately detect bipolar disorder, in which depressive symptoms may be part of a cycling mood pattern. Antidepressant treatment without mood stabilization in bipolar disorder can be harmful.
  • This tool does not screen for anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance use disorders, or other conditions that commonly co-occur with depression.
  • Do not use this tool in a mental health crisis. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 immediately.
  • Cultural factors can affect symptom expression and reporting. The PHQ-9 was primarily validated in Western primary care populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PHQ-9 and who developed it?
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was developed by Dr. Kurt Kroenke, Dr. Robert Spitzer, and Dr. Janet Williams and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in 2001. It was derived from the longer PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument as a self-administered, efficient tool for primary care settings. The 9 items directly correspond to the DSM diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. It has since become one of the most widely used depression screening instruments in the world, with validation studies across dozens of countries and clinical contexts.
Can the PHQ-9 diagnose depression?
No — the PHQ-9 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool. A high score indicates a need for further clinical evaluation but does not confirm a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or any other condition. Clinical diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional or physician, including assessment of symptom duration, severity, functional impairment, medical history, and ruling out other causes (such as thyroid dysfunction, medication side effects, or substance use). Screening tools like the PHQ-9 help identify people who may benefit from this evaluation.
What score indicates I should see a doctor?
Any score of 10 or above (Moderate severity) warrants clinical evaluation. In primary care research, a PHQ-9 cutoff score of 10 has a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 88% for detecting major depressive disorder. Scores of 15–19 (Moderately Severe) indicate a need for prompt evaluation, and scores of 20+ (Severe) warrant urgent clinical attention. Importantly, any score above 0 on Question 9 (thoughts of self-harm) should prompt immediate safety assessment regardless of total score. Mild scores (5–9) may benefit from watchful waiting, lifestyle support, and re-screening.
What does Question 9 about self-harm mean?
Question 9 asks about "thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way." Any endorsement of this item — even "several days" — is a clinical safety signal and requires immediate professional assessment. This does not mean everyone who endorses this item is in immediate danger, but passive thoughts of death or self-harm are important to evaluate in a clinical context. If you are having these thoughts, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.
How often should I retake the PHQ-9?
In clinical practice, the PHQ-9 is often repeated at regular intervals to monitor treatment response — typically every 2–4 weeks during active treatment. A 5-point change in PHQ-9 score is generally considered clinically meaningful. For self-monitoring outside clinical care, retaking every 4–8 weeks can help track patterns over time, but changes in score should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Do not use score changes as the sole basis for starting, stopping, or adjusting treatment.
What treatments are effective for depression?
Depression is a highly treatable condition. Evidence-based treatments include: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most studied and effective psychotherapies; antidepressant medications (SSRIs and SNRIs are first-line); interpersonal therapy (IPT); behavioral activation; and for severe or treatment-resistant cases, options including ECT, TMS, and esketamine. Lifestyle factors with strong evidence include regular aerobic exercise, sleep hygiene, and social connection. The optimal treatment depends on symptom severity, individual preference, prior treatment history, and clinical evaluation.
What is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?
988 is the 3-digit dialing code for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States. You can call or text 988 at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to reach a trained crisis counselor. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in crisis, as well as prevention and crisis resources for those concerned about a loved one. In 2022, the number was established as a dedicated, easy-to-remember code to make crisis support more accessible.

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Mental Health Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — available 24/7, free, and confidential. International resources: IASP Crisis Centres.