PHQ-A · Depression in teens
Is my teen depressed? Free PHQ-A test for adolescents
Teen Depression Self-Test
The PHQ adapted for adolescents - a depression screener for teens.
The PHQ-A is the adolescent version of the PHQ-9: a free nine-question depression screener written for ages 11-17, scored 0-27. It flags whether a teen's low mood warrants a conversation with a professional; it is not a diagnosis.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
9
Questions
~3
Minutes
Free
Always
Question 1 of 9 · start here
Little interest or pleasure in doing things.
Pick one and the rest of the PHQ-A continues on the next screen. Free, no sign-up.
What the PHQ-A measures
The PHQ-A (Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents) is the version of the PHQ-9 adapted for young people aged 11-17. It measures the same nine DSM depression symptoms - low interest, low mood, sleep changes, appetite changes, fatigue, feeling like a failure, poor concentration, restlessness or slowing, and thoughts of self-harm - with wording adjusted for adolescents (for example, referring to school work and family rather than adult work contexts).
Each item is scored 0-3, giving a total between 0 and 27. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms over the past two weeks.
Item 9 asks directly about thoughts of being better off dead or hurting yourself. A positive answer on item 9 is treated as a safety flag regardless of the total score.
Where the PHQ-A came from
The PHQ-A was developed and validated in 2002 by Jeffrey Johnson, Erin Harris, Robert Spitzer, and Janet Williams and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. It adapted the PHQ-9 for adolescents through pilot work in adolescent primary care and mental-health clinics, with wording changes and validation against structured psychiatric interviews. It is now widely used in paediatric primary care, school counselling, and adolescent mental-health services and is endorsed by professional bodies including the American Academy of Pediatrics for depression screening in adolescents.
How the PHQ-A is scored
The PHQ-A uses the same five severity bands as the PHQ-9. Item 9 is treated as a safety indicator: any non-zero answer prompts follow-up regardless of the total score.
| Score | Severity | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | Minimal or none | Symptoms within the normal range for adolescents. |
| 5-9 | Mild | Mild depression. Talking with a parent, school counsellor, or trusted adult is a good first step. |
| 10-14 | Moderate | Moderate depression. Structured support from a therapist or paediatrician is typically recommended. |
| 15-19 | Moderately severe | Moderately severe depression. Prompt professional evaluation strongly recommended. |
| 20-27 | Severe | Severe depression. Immediate professional support is important. |
How the PHQ-A is used in clinical practice
The PHQ-A is used at adolescent well-child visits, in school-based mental-health programs, and at intake in adolescent therapy. It is often paired with the SCARED for anxiety.
As with the adult PHQ-9, a drop of 5 or more points between administrations is considered a clinically meaningful improvement, and repeat administrations are used to track response to therapy or medication.
Item 9 is treated as a safety screen: any endorsement (even 'several days') triggers a structured suicide-risk conversation with the adolescent and involvement of parents or carers as appropriate.
Limitations to keep in mind
- ·The PHQ-A is a screen, not a diagnosis. Adolescent depression should be assessed by a qualified clinician who can consider development, family context, school function, and other contributors.
- ·Adolescents may under-report or over-report depending on how safe they feel with the person receiving their answers. Where possible, the PHQ-A is given privately and confidentially.
- ·Irritability rather than sadness can be the dominant mood in adolescent depression. The scale captures this partially through the second item ('down, depressed, irritable, or hopeless') but a clinician's judgement adds important nuance.
- ·Cultural context matters. In many families, adolescents present distress somatically (headaches, stomach pain) rather than as sadness, and this may not be captured fully by the PHQ-A alone.
How to read your PHQ-A score
A score is a starting point, not a verdict. Here is what each band on the PHQ-A usually means and what a reasonable next step looks like.
Minimal
Your score suggests minimal depression symptoms. Keep talking to people you trust about how you're feeling.
Mild
Your score suggests mild depression. It can help to talk with a parent, school counsellor, or trusted adult.
Moderate
Your score suggests moderate depression. Please consider talking to a therapist or doctor - things really can get easier with support.
Moderately severe
Your score suggests moderately severe depression. Please bring this to a trusted adult and a mental health professional soon.
Severe
Your score suggests severe depression. Please reach out to a trusted adult today - you don't have to figure this out alone.
What happens after a high score
A high PHQ-A score does not mean something is wrong with you, and it does not confirm a diagnosis. It means the pattern you are living with is measurable, and that a trained person can help you understand it properly.
In practice, the next step is usually a conversation: someone takes your history, rules out other causes (thyroid, sleep debt, medication, grief, life circumstance), and looks at how long this has been going on and how much it is costing you. From there you decide together whether therapy, a medical review, or simply structured support is the right fit.
If you want to bring your result to someone, you can email yourself a copy at the end of the test and book an online session with Komel. Sessions are 60 minutes on Google Meet, and you can also start with a shorter 30-minute intro consultation.
Instrument and source
This page administers the Teen Depression Self-Test (PHQ-A) as published, without modification to item wording or scoring. It is reproduced here for education and self-screening, scored on your device, and reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist.
Johnson JG, Harris ES, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-A for adolescents: validity of a brief measure. J Adolesc Health. 2002;30:196-204.
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-A
What is the PHQ-A?
The PHQ-A is the adolescent version of the PHQ-9 depression screener, adapted for young people aged 11-17. It measures the same nine DSM depression symptoms with age-appropriate wording.
What is a normal PHQ-A score for a teenager?
Scores of 0-4 are within the normal range. Scores of 5-9 are mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, and 20-27 severe.
Does a positive PHQ-A mean my teen has depression?
No. The PHQ-A is a screen. A positive result means further evaluation is worthwhile - it does not confirm depression. Adolescent depression is diagnosed by a clinician who considers full context and rules out other causes.
What if my teen answered 'yes' to item 9 (thoughts of self-harm)?
Any non-zero answer on item 9 should be taken seriously and followed up promptly with a mental-health professional. If your teen is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away.
Can teens take the PHQ-A on their own?
Yes. The PHQ-A is designed to be self-administered by adolescents aged 11-17. Parents can review results together with their teen and discuss next steps.
Is the PHQ-A free?
Yes. The PHQ-A is in the public domain and free to use for screening, research, and clinical purposes.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Johnson JG, Harris ES, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-A for adolescents: validity of a brief measure. J Adolesc Health. 2002;30:196-204.