What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) was developed by Drs. Robert Spitzer, Janet Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues. Its 9 questions match the 9 core symptoms of a depressive episode, and it is one of the most widely used depression screening tools in primary care and research.
Each question is scored by how often the problem happened over the past two weeks: not at all 0, several days 1, more than half the days 2, nearly every day 3. The 9 answers add up to a total from 0 to 27. Higher scores mean more symptoms.
What your score means
| Score | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0–4 | None to minimal |
| 5–9 | Mild |
| 10–14 | Moderate |
| 15–19 | Moderately severe |
| 20–27 | Severe |
With a cut-off of 10, the PHQ-9 detects major depression with about 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity (Kroenke et al., 2001).
FAQ
How accurate is the PHQ-9?
It's a well-studied screening tool, good for getting a first idea of how you're doing and for tracking changes. It can't replace a diagnosis: physical illness, medication and recent life events can all affect the score. Only a clinician can diagnose depression.
Does a high score mean I have depression?
Not necessarily. A high score means you've had many symptoms over the past two weeks and it's worth a closer look. Whether it's depression is for a doctor or mental health professional to decide.
How often should I take it?
The questions cover the last two weeks, so retaking it about every two weeks works well. Writing down your scores shows whether things are getting better or worse.
Are my answers saved or uploaded?
No. Scoring happens entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or saved on this site — closing or refreshing the page clears them.
Can teenagers use it?
The PHQ-9 was validated mainly in adults. There's an adapted version for teens (PHQ-A); it's best to go through it with a parent, school counselor or doctor.
References
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-613.
- Wang W, Bian Q, Zhao Y, et al. Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in the general population. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2014;36(5):539-544.
The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute it.