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Medical Disclaimer: This test is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. Results are not a diagnosis of depression. Only a qualified healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.
In Crisis? Help is Available.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number or 988 (in the US) for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone.

PHQ-9 Depression Test

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

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
Impact on Daily Life

If you checked off any problems, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

Understanding the PHQ-9 Assessment

What is the PHQ-9?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used tools in the world for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. It consists of 9 questions based on DSM-IV criteria for major depression.

How is it scored?

Each of the 9 questions is scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score ranges from 0 to 27. Higher scores suggest greater severity of depressive symptoms.

Scoring Interpretation Guide
Total Score Depression Severity Proposed Treatment Action
0 - 4 None-Minimal None
5 - 9 Mild Watchful waiting; repeat PHQ-9 at follow-up
10 - 14 Moderate Treatment plan, considering counseling, follow-up and/or pharmacotherapy
15 - 19 Moderately Severe Active treatment with pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy
20 - 27 Severe Immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy and, if severe impairment or poor response to therapy, expedited referral to a mental health specialist

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool. While it is clinically validated, a diagnosis of depression requires a clinical interview with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess your history, symptoms, and rule out other conditions.

Please seek help immediately. If you are in the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also go to the nearest emergency room. These thoughts are a symptom of a treatable condition, and support is available 24/7.
Crisis Resources

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number).

Call 988 (USA) Text 988 (USA)

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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Depression and PHQ-9 Research: