PHQ-9 Depression Test

The PHQ-9 is a 9-question depression test: you rate how often 9 problems have bothered you over the last 2 weeks, from 0 to 3 each, for a total of 0 to 27. Cutpoints at 5, 10, 15 and 20 split it into 5 levels, from none to severe [1]. A high score tells you to see a doctor; the diagnosis comes from that visit.

PHQ-9 · 9 questions · about 3 minutes

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

  1. 1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
  2. 2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
  3. 3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
  4. 4. Feeling tired or having little energy
  5. 5. Poor appetite or overeating
  6. 6. Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
  7. 7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
  8. 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. 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? (optional, not scored)

Scored in your browser. Nothing you choose is sent or saved.

Add the numbers next to your answers. 0‑4 none to minimal · 5‑9 mild depression · 10‑14 moderate depression · 15‑19 moderately severe depression · 20‑27 severe depression.

© Pfizer Inc., free to use. 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.

Quietarium editorial team Updated Sources: 11

PHQ-9 score interpretation: what each range means

Add the numbers next to your 9 answers: 0 for "Not at all," 1 for "Several days," 2 for "More than half the days" and 3 for "Nearly every day." The questions above are copied from the official form [2]. The manual's own example: 3 answers of 1, 2 answers of 2 and 3 answers of 3, with the last question at 0, add up to 16 [1].

ScoreSeverityWhat the manual proposes
0‑4None to minimalNo action
5‑9MildWatchful waiting; repeat the PHQ-9 at follow-up
10‑14ModerateA treatment plan, considering counseling and follow-up
15‑19Moderately severeActive treatment
20‑27SevereTreatment started promptly; referral to a mental health specialist if needed

The right-hand column comes from the clinicians' manual [1]. Whether medicine makes sense for you is something to decide with a doctor. For a hard hour while you wait for that visit, the 2-minute longer-exhale routine asks very little of you; it is not treatment.

Question 9: why crisis numbers can come before your score

Any answer above "Not at all" on the question about being better off dead or hurting yourself deserves a conversation with a professional, whatever the total. The manual says only a clinical interview can judge the actual risk [1]. If you answer it above 0, this page shows crisis numbers first and your score below them.

Two large health-system studies measured the risk:

  • Among 84,418 outpatients, the chance of a suicide attempt within a year rose from 0.4% for "Not at all" to 4% for "Nearly every day" [3].
  • In the same study, the extra risk built up over several days and kept growing for several months [3].
  • A 0 does not rule risk out: in a study of more than 500,000 patients, 39% of suicide attempts within 30 days came from people who had answered "Not at all" [4].

If these thoughts scare you, call or text 988 in the US and Canada, or find a number in crisis lines by country.

How accurate is the PHQ-9?

At the usual cutpoint of 10, it picks up about 85 of every 100 people with major depression and correctly clears about 85 of every 100 without it. That comes from pooling 100 studies with 44,503 people who also had a diagnostic interview [5]. The original 2001 study, with 580 interviews, found 88 and 88 [6].

Specificity was a little higher for men and for people aged 60 or older [5], so fewer of their high scores were false alarms.

A high score is not a diagnosis

A score of 10 or more flags many people who would not be diagnosed after a structured interview. In pooled data from 44 studies, the share scoring 10 or more was 24.6%, while the share with major depression on a structured interview was 12.1% [7]. That suggests a large share of high scores, perhaps around half, do not reflect major depression.

A high score still means you reported many symptoms, and it gives a doctor something concrete to start from. While you wait for the visit, behavioral activation describes one self-help approach: planning small activities and noting your mood.

The "how difficult" question

The last question on the form asks how difficult these problems have made work, home life or getting along with other people. It is not added to the score [1]. According to the manual, the answer is strongly linked to how impaired people are, so tell your doctor what you chose.

Taking the PHQ-9 again

Doctors repeat the PHQ-9 every few weeks to see whether treatment is working. In a trial of 434 older adults (average age 71) in depression care, the smallest change that counted for one person was estimated at 5 points [8]. A drop from 12 to 10 may be noise; a drop from 15 to 9 likely is not.

Printable PHQ-9

The printable PHQ-9 matches the official form, "how difficult" question included. Keep dated, filled-in sheets in one folder and you have a record to show your doctor.

PHQ-9, PHQ-2, PHQ-8 and GAD-7: what is the difference

All four use the same 0 to 3 answers and come from the same research group [1]. Exhausted by work rather than low in mood? The burnout test asks about that.

TestWhat it isRange
PHQ-2The first 2 questions of the PHQ-9; a score of 3 or more means you should take the full PHQ-9 [9]0‑6
PHQ-8The PHQ-9 without question 9, used mostly in research [10]0‑24
PHQ-9The full depression scale on this page0‑27
GAD-7Anxiety; often given at the same visit as the PHQ-90‑21

The US Preventive Services Task Force (2023) recommends depression screening for all adults, older adults and pregnant and postpartum people included. For suicide-risk screening in adults, it judged the evidence insufficient [11].

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal PHQ-9 score?

The manual has no "normal" label. Its lowest range, 0 to 4, is called none to minimal [1].

Is a PHQ-9 score of 16 high?

Yes. A score of 16 is in the moderately severe range (15 to 19), a "red flag" in the manual's words [1]. Book a visit with a doctor or therapist soon.

What does a PHQ-9 score of 25 mean?

A score of 25 is in the severe range (20 to 27), near the top. Most of the 9 problems have been there nearly every day. Talk to a doctor this week, and if you answered more than 0 on question 9, call or text a crisis line now.

Is the PHQ-9 for anxiety too?

No, it covers depression only. For anxiety, take the GAD-7, which uses the same answer scale.

What age is the PHQ-9 for?

Adults. The ranges come from patients in primary care and obstetrics clinics [6]. Teenagers have a separately modified questionnaire, the PHQ-A [1], so a teen's PHQ-9 score is best read together with a doctor.

Is the PHQ-9 free?

Yes, free to copy and print. The official form states it outright [2].

When to see a professional

See a doctor or therapist if your score is 10 or more, or if low mood or loss of interest has lasted 2 weeks or longer at any score. Before calling it depression, the manual asks doctors to rule out normal grief, a past manic episode and physical causes [1], which is one more reason to go in person. Go sooner if:

  • you answered question 9 with anything above "Not at all";
  • you can hardly get through work, school or daily chores;
  • the low mood came after a birth, a loss or another major change and is not lifting.

If you are thinking about ending your life, call or text a crisis line now instead of waiting for an appointment.

If the questions brought up painful thoughts, put the test aside. Sit somewhere you feel safe and call or message someone you trust.

If you feel very bad right now

Emergency, US and Canada 911

If you are thinking about suicide or are afraid you might hurt yourself, call or text now. You do not have to wait until it gets worse.

  • Emergency, US and Canada 911
  • Crisis line, US and Canada (free, 24/7) 988, call or text

All countries and lines

Author
Quietarium editorial team
Updated

This page does not replace advice from a doctor. Medical disclaimer · Editorial policy

Sources: 11
  1. Pfizer / PHQ Screeners. Instructions for Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and GAD-7 Measures. phqscreeners.com (accessed October 19, 2026). Official manual.
  2. Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Kroenke K. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), English, official form. phqscreeners.com (accessed October 19, 2026). Questionnaire.
  3. Simon GE, Rutter CM, Peterson D, et al. Does response on the PHQ-9 Depression Questionnaire predict subsequent suicide attempt or suicide death? Psychiatr Serv. 2013;64(12):1195-1202. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201200587. PubMed 24036589. Cohort study, 84,418 outpatients.
  4. Simon GE, Coleman KJ, Rossom RC, et al. Risk of suicide attempt and suicide death following completion of the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module in community practice. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(2):221-227. doi:10.4088/JCP.15m09776. PubMed 26930521. Cohort study, 509,945 outpatients.
  5. Negeri ZF, Levis B, Sun Y, et al. Accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for screening to detect major depression: updated systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2021;375:n2183. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2183. PubMed 34610915. Systematic review and meta-analysis.
  6. 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. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x. PubMed 11556941. Validation study, 6,000 patients.
  7. Levis B, Benedetti A, Ioannidis JPA, et al. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores do not accurately estimate depression prevalence: individual participant data meta-analysis. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;122:115-128.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.02.002. PubMed 32105798. Meta-analysis.
  8. Löwe B, Unützer J, Callahan CM, Perkins AJ, Kroenke K. Monitoring depression treatment outcomes with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Med Care. 2004;42(12):1194-1201. doi:10.1097/00005650-200412000-00006. PubMed 15550799. Data from a randomized trial, 434 patients.
  9. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: validity of a two-item depression screener. Med Care. 2003;41(11):1284-1292. doi:10.1097/01.MLR.0000093487.78664.3C. PubMed 14583691. Validation study.
  10. Kroenke K, Strine TW, Spitzer RL, et al. The PHQ-8 as a measure of current depression in the general population. J Affect Disord. 2009;114(1-3):163-173. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.06.026. PubMed 18752852. Population study.
  11. US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for depression and suicide risk in adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2023;329(23):2057-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.9297. PubMed 37338872. Guideline.