Depression and the PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 is one of the most widely used depression questionnaires. It asks about nine experiences over the past two weeks and gives a score that reflects symptom severity.
This is educational information, not a diagnosis. You can take the free, confidential screening.
Take the screeningWhat the PHQ-9 measures
The nine items map onto the recognised symptoms of depression — such as low mood, loss of interest, sleep and appetite changes, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. Each is rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day).
How it is scored, and the severity bands
Scores range from 0 to 27. Cut points of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mark mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe symptoms (Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001).
A band shows where a score falls; it is not a diagnosis by itself.
How accurate is it?
At a threshold of 10 or more, the PHQ-9 detects major depression with about 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity, and it has been validated across many primary-care settings (Kroenke et al., 2001; Costantini et al., 2021).
What a high score does — and doesn’t — mean
A higher score suggests it may be worth talking with a health professional; it does not confirm a diagnosis. Scores can change with circumstances, sleep and stress.
If you are in distress, help is available. In the US you can call or text 988 at any time.
References
- Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. Link
- Costantini, L., Pasquarella, C., Odone, A., et al. (2021). Screening for depression in primary care with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): a systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 279, 473–483. Link
Related
This page describes validated instruments and research for education only. It does not provide a diagnosis or medical advice. If you have concerns about your wellbeing, consider speaking with a qualified health professional. In the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at any time.