PHQ-9 · Depression
Am I depressed? Free PHQ-9 self-test
Depression Self-Test
The clinician-validated 9-question depression screener, free online.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
9
Questions
~3
Minutes
Free
Always
What the PHQ-9 measures
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) measures the nine symptoms of major depressive disorder as defined in the DSM. It asks how often, over the past two weeks, you have been bothered by low mood, loss of interest, sleep changes, fatigue, appetite changes, guilt or worthlessness, concentration difficulty, physical restlessness or slowing, and thoughts of self-harm.
Each question is answered on a 0-3 scale, from "not at all" to "nearly every day". The total ranges from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms over the recent fortnight.
The PHQ-9 is used as both a screening tool (to flag likely depression in people who have not been assessed) and a severity measure (to track whether symptoms are improving with treatment). It is not itself a diagnosis - only a qualified clinician, taking your full history, can make one.
The ninth item asks directly about thoughts of being better off dead or hurting yourself. This item exists because untreated suicidal thoughts are the most urgent thing a screening tool can surface. Answering honestly here is the point.
Where the PHQ-9 came from
The PHQ-9 was developed in 1999 by Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, and Janet B. W. Williams as the depression module of the larger PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire, funded by Pfizer. Its validation study (Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001, Journal of General Internal Medicine) established it as a reliable, brief measure with sensitivity and specificity around 88% for major depression at a cut-off of 10. It is now one of the most widely used depression instruments in primary care worldwide and is free to use without permission.
How the PHQ-9 is scored
Your total score falls into one of five severity bands. The clinical convention is that a score of 10 or higher is the threshold at which further evaluation is usually recommended.
| Score | Severity | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | Minimal or none | Symptoms are within the normal range. No treatment typically indicated. |
| 5-9 | Mild depression | Watchful waiting, repeat PHQ-9 in a few weeks, or brief supportive counselling. |
| 10-14 | Moderate depression | Treatment plan usually recommended - therapy, medication, or both. |
| 15-19 | Moderately severe depression | Active treatment with therapy and often pharmacotherapy is typically recommended. |
| 20-27 | Severe depression | Immediate initiation of therapy and expedited referral to a specialist. |
How the PHQ-9 is used in clinical practice
In primary care, the PHQ-9 is often given at intake and repeated at follow-up visits to track whether symptoms are responding to treatment. A drop of 5 points or more between visits is generally considered a clinically meaningful improvement.
In psychiatric and psychotherapy settings it is used to establish a baseline at the start of care, to gauge change over the course of therapy, and to inform whether a referral for medication review is worth discussing.
The PHQ-9 has been translated into more than 30 languages and validated across cultural contexts, though local adaptation of the ninth item is common in settings where suicide is heavily stigmatised.
Limitations to keep in mind
- ·The PHQ-9 is a screen, not a diagnosis. High scores can be caused by grief, medical illness, medication side effects, thyroid dysfunction, or substance use - a clinician evaluates the wider picture.
- ·It measures the past two weeks only. Chronic low-grade depression (persistent depressive disorder, previously called dysthymia) is not well captured by a single administration.
- ·Self-report is subject to how you feel today. A score taken on a particularly hard day can look worse than your baseline. Repeat administrations paint a more accurate picture than a single result.
- ·Cultural expression of depression varies. In some cultures depression is more likely to be reported as physical symptoms (pain, tiredness, sleep) than as sadness or hopelessness, which the PHQ-9 captures well - but not perfectly.
Before you start
- · Find a quiet few minutes - answer honestly, not how you wish you felt.
- · There are no right or wrong answers. Pick what feels closest.
- · This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
- · If anything brings up something heavy, support is at the end.
Common questions about the PHQ-9
What is a normal PHQ-9 score?
A score of 0-4 is considered minimal or no depression - this is the range most people without a current depressive episode fall into. Scores from 5-9 are considered mild and don't necessarily indicate a clinical problem, though they are worth paying attention to.
What does a PHQ-9 score of 10 mean?
10 is the standard threshold at which clinicians consider a positive screen for depression and typically recommend further evaluation. It does not confirm the diagnosis on its own, but it is the point at which a conversation with a professional becomes worthwhile.
Is the PHQ-9 the same as the PHQ-2?
No. The PHQ-2 is an even shorter screener using only the first two PHQ-9 items (low interest and low mood). It is often used first, and if positive, the full PHQ-9 follows.
Can I use the PHQ-9 to diagnose myself?
No. The PHQ-9 is designed to indicate whether depression is likely and worth investigating - not to confirm a diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose major depressive disorder, taking your history, context, and other causes into account.
How often should I retake the PHQ-9?
In treatment settings it is often given every 2-4 weeks to track change. For personal use, retaking it once every few weeks is reasonable - retaking it daily is not, because normal mood variation shows up as noise rather than trend.
Is the PHQ-9 free to use?
Yes. The PHQ-9 was released into the public domain by its developers and Pfizer, and can be used, reproduced, and translated without permission or fee.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
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.