Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9 is an established self-report screening questionnaire. It measures how often nine depressive symptoms have occurred during the past two weeks and produces a published severity score. It does not provide a diagnosis.
- Scientific name
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
- Primary reference
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2001;16(9):606–613. Open publication
- Time
- 3 min
- Length
- 9 questions
- Cost
- Free basic result
- Age
- Adults 18+
What this covers
- Depressive symptoms
- Frequency of the nine PHQ-9 symptoms during the past two weeks.
Who it is for
Adults who want a structured, private check of depressive symptoms experienced during the past two weeks.
What your result can show
The nine responses are summed to a score from 0 to 27 and shown in the PHQ-9's published symptom ranges. The result is suitable as a conversation prompt, not as a diagnosis.
Important limitations
The PHQ-9 is a screening measure, not a diagnostic assessment. Context, duration, functional impact, physical health and other explanations require qualified clinical evaluation. Any response above zero to item 9 deserves prompt attention.
A higher score does not establish a diagnosis. A lower score does not show that a condition is absent.
Evidence and permission
PHQ-9 © Pfizer Inc.; developed by Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues.
Your answers and result stay on this device. After completion, you can separately choose to upload derived scores for a private link that expires after 180 days.