MedMigrant

Psychiatry

PHQ-9 questionnaire — depression severity test

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems? Choose one answer for each of the 9 items.

1Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4Feeling tired or having little energy
5Poor appetite or overeating
6Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
7Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
8Moving 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
9Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way

Interpretation

The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items matching the DSM criteria for a depressive episode. Each answer scores 0–3, so the total ranges from 0 to 27.

ScoreSeverity
0–4minimal or none
5–9mild
10–14moderate
15–19moderately severe
20–27severe

In the validation study a score of 10 or more identified major depression with 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The score is not a diagnosis — a clinician makes the diagnosis after talking with the patient.

Frequently asked questions

What PHQ-9 score suggests depression?
The most widely used cut-off is 10 points. A score of 10–14 means moderate, 15–19 moderately severe and 20–27 severe depressive symptoms.
Can the PHQ-9 replace a doctor’s visit?
No. It is a screening questionnaire. A high score, or any answer other than “not at all” to item 9, is a reason to talk to a doctor.

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This calculator is for education and does not replace a doctor’s assessment. Always interpret the result together with the history and examination.