The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report questionnaire that screens for major depressive disorder by assessing the frequency of each DSM-5 depression criterion over the past 2 weeks. Each item scores 0–3, yielding a total of 0–27. It was developed and validated by Drs. Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams in 2001 and is used in over 100 countries.

Can the PHQ-9 diagnose depression?

No — the PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen (score ≥10) indicates a high probability of major depressive disorder but requires confirmation through a clinical interview (e.g., SCID, MINI, or clinical assessment). The positive predictive value in primary care is approximately 50%, meaning half of positive screens will have confirmed depression on clinical evaluation.

What score indicates I need treatment?

Guidelines vary, but generally: score 10–14 (moderate) warrants treatment consideration (therapy and/or medication). Score 15+ (moderately severe to severe) strongly recommends active treatment with both medication and psychotherapy. Score 5–9 (mild) suggests watchful waiting with repeat screening in 2 weeks. These are guidelines — clinical judgment considers context, functional impairment, and patient preferences.

What is the most effective treatment for depression?

For moderate depression, psychotherapy (particularly CBT and IPT) and antidepressant medication have similar efficacy (~60% response rate). Combination therapy (medication + psychotherapy) is significantly more effective than either alone, particularly for severe depression, with response rates of 70–80%. Exercise, sleep optimization, and social support are important adjunctive treatments.

How often should I take the PHQ-9?

For treatment monitoring: every 2–4 weeks until remission (score ≤4), then every 3–6 months during continuation therapy. For screening: at least annually in primary care, and on initial visits with a mental health provider. More frequent screening for high-risk populations (chronic illness, substance use, postpartum, history of depression).

What should I do if I endorsed item 9?

Any endorsement of item 9 (thoughts of death or self-harm) should be taken seriously. If you are having thoughts of suicide: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to the nearest emergency department. You can also discuss these thoughts with your doctor or therapist — having fleeting thoughts does not mean you will act on them, but professional evaluation is essential.

PHQ-9 Depression Screening Questionnaire Calculator

Screen for depression using the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Score severity, get treatment recommendations, and track symptoms over time with this validated tool.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: The PHQ-9 is a screening tool — NOT a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen should be followed by a clinical interview to confirm a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.

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?

PHQ-9 Score

0 / 27

Severity: Minimal / None

Depression Severity

Minimal / None

Usually a low symptom-burden band; clinical context still matters.

Clinical Context

Usually a low symptom-burden band; clinical context still matters.

This questionnaire supports screening and follow-up; it does not replace a diagnostic interview.

Somatic Symptoms

0 / 12

Sleep, energy, appetite, psychomotor (items 3, 4, 5, 8)

Cognitive/Emotional Symptoms

0 / 12

Interest, mood, self-worth, concentration (items 1, 2, 6, 7)

Functional Impairment

Not difficult at all

No functional impairment reported

Score Visualization

0/27

Item-by-Item Scores

#	Symptom	Frequency
1	Little interest or pleasure in doing things	Not at all
2	Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless	Not at all
3	Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleepin...	Not at all
4	Feeling tired or having little energy	Not at all
5	Poor appetite or overeating	Not at all
6	Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are ...	Not at all
7	Trouble concentrating on things, such as read...	Not at all
8	Moving or speaking so slowly that other peopl...	Not at all
9	Thoughts that you would be better off dead, o...	Not at all

PHQ-9 Severity Classification

Score	Severity	Treatment	Status
0–4	Minimal/None	Lower symptom-burden band	◀
5–9	Mild	Mild symptom band; follow-up context matters
10–14	Moderate	Moderate symptom band; fuller assessment commonly needed
15–19	Moderately Severe	Higher-burden band; close mental-health follow-up is common
20–27	Severe	Very high symptom burden; urgent clinical review

Planning notes, formulas, and examples

About the PHQ-9 Depression Screening Questionnaire Calculator

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) Calculator is the most widely used validated screening instrument for depression worldwide. Developed by Drs. Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams in 2001, the PHQ-9 assesses each of the nine DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder on a 0–3 frequency scale over the past two weeks, yielding a total score of 0–27.

Depression affects approximately 280 million people globally and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite effective treatments being available, fewer than half of those affected receive adequate treatment — often because depression goes unrecognized. The PHQ-9 provides a brief, validated tool for screening, severity assessment, and treatment monitoring that can be administered in under 3 minutes.

This calculator scores all nine PHQ-9 items, classifies depression severity, provides treatment recommendations based on current clinical guidelines, identifies suicide risk (item 9), and breaks down symptoms into somatic and cognitive domains. It should be used as a screening tool — not a diagnostic one — and positive screens require clinical confirmation through a structured diagnostic interview.

When This Page Helps

Depression is common, disabling, and treatable — but often unrecognized. The PHQ-9 is free, validated in 80+ languages, takes under 3 minutes, and has 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression at a cutoff of 10. Serial scoring (every 2–4 weeks) tracks treatment response: a 50% reduction in score indicates clinically meaningful improvement.

How to Use the Inputs

For each of the 9 items, select how often the symptom has bothered you over the LAST 2 WEEKS.
"Not at all" = 0 points, "Several days" = 1 point, "More than half the days" = 2 points, "Nearly every day" = 3 points.
Answer the functional impairment question about difficulty with work, home, and relationships.
Review your total score, severity classification, and treatment recommendations.
Pay attention to item 9 (suicidal thoughts) — any endorsement triggers a safety alert.
Discuss results with a mental health professional for proper clinical evaluation.

Formula used

PHQ-9 Score = Sum of 9 items (each scored 0–3)
Total range: 0–27

Severity:
• 0–4: Minimal / None
• 5–9: Mild
• 10–14: Moderate
• 15–19: Moderately Severe
• 20–27: Severe

Sensitivity: 88%, Specificity: 88% at score ≥10
Positive predictive value: ~50% in primary care

Example Calculation

Result: PHQ-9 Score: 10 — Moderate Depression

Total score of 10 falls at the threshold for moderate depression. Treatment plan recommended: consider psychotherapy (CBT or IPT) and/or antidepressant initiation. Somatic symptoms (5/12) and cognitive symptoms (5/12) are balanced, suggesting mixed presentation. No suicidal ideation endorsed.

Tips & Best Practices

A score of 10 is the standard threshold for clinically significant depression. Sensitivity and specificity are both approximately 88% at this cutoff.
Serial PHQ-9 scores (every 2–4 weeks) are essential for monitoring treatment response. A 50% reduction indicates clinically meaningful improvement.
Item 9 (suicidal thoughts) should ALWAYS be assessed regardless of the total score — any endorsement requires safety planning.
The PHQ-9 can detect subclinical depression (score 5–9) that may benefit from watchful waiting and preventive counseling.
PHQ-2 (items 1 and 2 only) can be used as an ultra-brief screening: score ≥3 warrants full PHQ-9 administration.
Depression commonly co-occurs with anxiety (use GAD-7) and substance use disorders — screen for comorbidities.

The PHQ-9 in Clinical Practice

The PHQ-9 is the most widely used depression screening instrument in the world, validated in over 80 languages across diverse populations including primary care, specialty clinics, emergency departments, and obstetric settings. Its brevity (under 3 minutes to administer), free availability (no licensing fees), and strong psychometric properties have made it the standard of care for depression screening and monitoring.

Interpreting PHQ-9 Scores Over Time

Serial PHQ-9 scores are more valuable than a single assessment. A drop of 5+ points is considered a clinically meaningful response. A 50% reduction from baseline indicates treatment response. Achieving a score of ≤4 (remission) is the treatment goal. If scores plateau after 4–6 weeks of treatment, consider augmentation, switching medications, or adding psychotherapy.

Comorbidity Screening

Depression rarely occurs in isolation. Over 60% of depressed patients have comorbid anxiety (screen with GAD-7), 30% have substance use disorders (screen with AUDIT/DASI), and chronic medical conditions (diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain) multiply depression risk 2–3×. A comprehensive assessment including the PHQ-9 alongside other validated screeners provides a fuller picture of mental health needs.

Sources & Methodology

Last updated: March 28, 2026

Methodology

This worksheet totals the PHQ-9 symptom items and maps the result to the standard severity bands used for depression screening. It is a screening aid, not a diagnostic interview or treatment plan.

Sources

The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure (Kroenke et al.) — Original PHQ-9 validation paper.
Depression screening recommendation (USPSTF) — Routine screening context for adult depression.

Frequently Asked Questions

The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report questionnaire that screens for major depressive disorder by assessing the frequency of each DSM-5 depression criterion over the past 2 weeks. Each item scores 0–3, yielding a total of 0–27. It was developed and validated by Drs. Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams in 2001 and is used in over 100 countries.
No — the PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen (score ≥10) indicates a high probability of major depressive disorder but requires confirmation through a clinical interview (e.g., SCID, MINI, or clinical assessment). The positive predictive value in primary care is approximately 50%, meaning half of positive screens will have confirmed depression on clinical evaluation.
Guidelines vary, but generally: score 10–14 (moderate) warrants treatment consideration (therapy and/or medication). Score 15+ (moderately severe to severe) strongly recommends active treatment with both medication and psychotherapy. Score 5–9 (mild) suggests watchful waiting with repeat screening in 2 weeks. These are guidelines — clinical judgment considers context, functional impairment, and patient preferences.
Any endorsement of item 9 (thoughts of death or self-harm) should be taken seriously. If you are having thoughts of suicide: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to the nearest emergency department. You can also discuss these thoughts with your doctor or therapist — having fleeting thoughts does not mean you will act on them, but professional evaluation is essential.