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PHQ-9 Depression Test

Reviewed by Albert Wong, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a nine-question screen for depression that asks how often common symptoms have bothered you over the past two weeks. It is one of the most widely used depression questionnaires in primary care and mental health settings.

It takes about two minutes. Anyone can use it to check in on their mood, and clinicians use it to screen and track symptoms over time. Your answers are scored in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere, and closing the page erases it.

Before you start: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Whatever number you get, it belongs in a conversation with a professional who knows you.

Completely private: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored anywhere.

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
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?

This follow-up question is part of the standard questionnaire but is not scored.

How to take the PHQ-9

  1. Think about the past two weeks.
  2. Answer all nine questions by choosing how often each problem has bothered you.
  3. Answer the final question about how much these problems affect daily life.
  4. Read your total score and severity band, and check the note on item 9.
  5. Share the result with a health professional if your score is 10 or higher or item 9 is above 0.

What the PHQ-9 measures

Each of the nine items matches one of the DSM symptom criteria for major depression: loss of interest or pleasure, low mood, sleep changes, tiredness, appetite changes, feeling bad about yourself, trouble concentrating, moving or speaking slowly or being restless, and thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself.

A final question asks how difficult these problems have made work, home life, or getting along with others. It is not added to the score, but it helps show how much the symptoms are affecting daily life.

How the PHQ-9 is scored

Each item is rated 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days), or 3 (nearly every day). The nine ratings are added for a total from 0 to 27.

Severity bands: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, and 20–27 severe. A score of 10 or higher is the threshold most often used to prompt further assessment.

Item 9 is reviewed on its own, whatever the total. Any answer above 0 on that item means a clinician should ask directly about thoughts of death or self-harm, even when the overall score is low.

What your score means

A higher score means more frequent depression symptoms over the past two weeks. It does not tell you why you feel this way or what kind of help fits best. A score of 10 or more is a good reason to talk with a doctor, therapist, or other health professional.

If you answered anything other than "not at all" to item 9, please reach out today. In the US you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any hour. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Limits of a screening test

The PHQ-9 is a screen, not a diagnosis. Grief, medical illness, medications, substance use, and other mental health conditions can all raise a score. A diagnosis of depression requires an evaluation by a qualified professional who can ask follow-up questions and consider your history.

Using the PHQ-9 in your practice

Give the PHQ-9 at intake and repeat it at a regular cadence, such as every session or every few weeks, to support measurement-based care. A change of about 5 points is generally considered meaningful. Review item 9 at every administration and document your risk assessment when it is endorsed. The PHQ-A, an adolescent version, is available for younger clients.

Record the total, the severity band, the item 9 response, and the functioning rating in the note, along with the date. CPT 96127 is commonly used for brief standardized instruments like the PHQ-9, though coverage varies by payer. Practice Harbor can send the PHQ-9 through the client portal and chart scores over time.

The full guide covers cadence, documentation and billing: the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in private practice. To give both questionnaires and download one combined report, use the PHQ-9 & GAD-7 scorer.

Common questions

How is the PHQ-9 scored and what is the cutoff?

Each of the nine items is scored 0 to 3 and the ratings are added for a total of 0 to 27. Scores of 0–4 are minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, and 20–27 severe. A total of 10 or higher is the most common threshold for further assessment. Item 9 should be reviewed separately at any total.

Is the PHQ-9 a diagnosis of depression?

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening questionnaire. It shows how often depression symptoms have occurred recently, but it cannot rule out other causes such as medical conditions, medications, grief, or other mental health conditions. A diagnosis requires an evaluation by a qualified clinician who can ask follow-up questions and review your history.

What does question 9 on the PHQ-9 mean?

Question 9 asks about thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself. Any answer above 0 matters on its own, even if the total score is low, and should be discussed with a clinician. If you are having these thoughts now, call or text 988 in the US to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.

Is the PHQ-9 free to use?

Yes. The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs. Robert Spitzer, Janet Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues with an educational grant from Pfizer. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute it. Clinicians, researchers, and individuals can use it without a license fee.

How often should the PHQ-9 be repeated?

Because it asks about the past two weeks, the PHQ-9 can be repeated as often as every two weeks. In treatment, many clinicians give it every session or monthly to track progress. A change of about 5 points is generally considered meaningful, so small shifts from one week to the next should not be over-read.

What is the difference between the PHQ-9 and the PHQ-2?

The PHQ-2 is the first two PHQ-9 questions, about loss of interest and low mood, scored 0 to 6. It is a quick first-pass screen. A PHQ-2 score of 3 or more is positive and should be followed by the full PHQ-9, which covers all nine symptoms and gives a severity band.

Often given alongside

This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. If your score worries you, or if you didn't need a questionnaire to tell you something is wrong, please talk to a professional. In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), around the clock.

Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.

Are you a therapist? Practice Harbor sends the PHQ-9 through the client portal, scores it automatically, and charts it over time, alongside notes, scheduling, and billing.

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