PHQ-9 Depression Screener
Free, anonymous PHQ-9 depression screener — the validated 9-item questionnaire used by clinicians worldwide. Severity bucket + next-step guidance.
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About the PHQ-9
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-report instrument that screens for depression and tracks response to treatment. Each item maps directly to one of the nine DSM-5 criteria for a major depressive episode, asked over a 2-week recall window with four response options (0 = “not at all” to 3 = “nearly every day”).
It is one of the most widely used depression screeners in primary care worldwide. NICE (UK), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and most clinical practice guidelines list the PHQ-9 as a recommended screening tool.
Score interpretation
| Total score | Severity | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | Minimal or none | Self-monitor; re-assess if symptoms persist |
| 5 – 9 | Mild | Watchful waiting; consider repeating PHQ-9 in 2–4 weeks |
| 10 – 14 | Moderate | Consider a clinical conversation with a primary-care or mental-health professional |
| 15 – 19 | Moderately severe | Active treatment with psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy is typically recommended |
| 20 – 27 | Severe | Active treatment is strongly recommended; if there is any safety risk, seek urgent help today |
A note on Item 9
Item 9 specifically asks about thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead. Any non-zero response on this item triggers a safety prompt regardless of the total score. This isn’t an arbitrary rule — it reflects how the instrument is used in clinical practice. If this is you right now, please reach out today.
If you need help right now
- United States: 988 (call or text)
- United Kingdom: 111 / Samaritans 116 123
- Poland: 116 123 (adults) / 116 111 (youth) / 112 (emergency)
- Worldwide: findahelpline.com
Privacy
The PHQ-9 runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers never leave your device. We send a single anonymous event with your severity bucket (and a flag indicating whether item 9 was non-zero) so we can understand how the tool is used and prioritize improvements — no personally identifiable information, no raw score, no per-item answers.
License
The PHQ-9 is in the public domain for the purpose of education, research, and clinical practice. Pfizer Inc. has explicitly waived copyright. Source: phqscreeners.com.
Frequently asked questions
What does the PHQ-9 score mean?
Total score ranges 0–27. Cutoffs: 0–4 minimal/none, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. A clinically significant threshold for major depression is typically ≥10. The PHQ-9 is a screener — diagnosis requires a clinical interview.
Is the PHQ-9 a diagnosis?
No. The PHQ-9 is a validated screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A high score signals that a clinical conversation is warranted — diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria assessed by a clinician.
What does a PHQ-9 score of 10 mean?
A score of 10 is the lower edge of the moderate band (10–14). Levis 2019 (BMJ, PMID 30967483), an individual-patient-data meta-analysis of 29 studies (n ≈ 6,730), confirmed 10 as the best-balanced cutoff with around 88% sensitivity and 85% specificity for major depression. NICE NG222 (2022) treats it as the point where a primary-care conversation about depression starts to make sense. It is not a diagnosis — it is the threshold where conversation becomes useful.
What does a PHQ-9 score of 15 mean?
A score of 15 sits in the moderately severe band (15–19). At this level NICE NG222 and the APA recommend active treatment: psychotherapy (CBT or IPT), or pharmacotherapy with an SSRI/SNRI, often in combination. Kroenke 2001 (PMID 11556941) showed people scoring ≥15 have roughly an 80% chance of meeting DSM criteria for a major depressive episode after a full clinical interview. Watchful waiting at 15+ rarely pays off statistically.
At what PHQ-9 score is depression diagnosed?
The clinical threshold is 10. Manea 2012 (CMAJ, PMID 22122776), a meta-analysis of 18 studies, confirmed 10 as the best balance of sensitivity and specificity for major depressive disorder. Above 10, roughly 30–50 out of 100 people will meet full DSM-5 criteria after a clinician's interview. The bands then run: 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. The score signals the conversation; the diagnosis still happens in the conversation.
PHQ-9 = 14, should I see a doctor?
Yes — a score of 14 is the top of the moderate band, one point from moderately severe. At this level USPSTF 2023 and NICE NG222 recommend a primary-care visit within roughly two weeks. Your primary-care provider can confirm the picture, screen for medical contributors (thyroid, vitamin D, sleep apnea), and refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist. At 14 the symptoms have already lasted at least two weeks, and they rarely lift on their own.
PHQ-9 vs GAD-7 — what's the difference?
PHQ-9 measures depression (9 items, 0–27, DSM-5 criteria). GAD-7 measures generalized anxiety (7 items, 0–21). Both ask about the last two weeks and both are validated for primary care. They are routinely run together because anxiety and depression co-occur — roughly half of people who meet criteria for one also meet criteria for the other within 12 months. If you scored high on one, take the other too.
Who developed the PHQ-9 and is it free to use?
The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B. W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Pfizer has explicitly waived copyright restrictions: no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute it. Official translations are available in 80+ languages on phqscreeners.com.
Can I use PHQ-9 for teenagers or older adults?
For adolescents 12–17, use the PHQ-A — an adaptation with minor wording changes (this page is the adult version). For older adults (65+), the PHQ-9 is validated but somatic items (sleep, appetite, energy) can overlap with normal aging or chronic illness, so clinicians often pair it with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Wong 2023 (PMID 37013024) summarizes age-specific calibration. Use the result as a conversation starter with a clinician familiar with the age group.
How often should I retake the PHQ-9?
Clinicians often readminister the PHQ-9 every 2–4 weeks during active treatment to track response. Outside of treatment, retaking it makes sense if symptoms change or after a major life event. Avoid daily retakes — natural day-to-day variation can mislead.
What if I scored above 0 on question 9?
Item 9 asks about thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead. Any answer above 0 — even "several days" — is a clinical signal for today, not next week. You do not need to be in active crisis to reach out. United States: call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 or NHS 111. Poland: 116 123 (adults) / 116 111 (youth). Worldwide directory: findahelpline.com. In immediate danger call 911 / 999 / 112.
Can the PHQ-9 give a false positive?
Yes, occasionally. At the 10 cutoff, sensitivity is around 88% and specificity 85% (Levis 2019, BMJ). Out of 100 people scoring ≥10, roughly 30–50 meet full DSM criteria after a clinical interview. Scores can be inflated by hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, anemia, sleep apnea, certain medications, or acute grief. A low score also doesn't rule depression out — if you function poorly day-to-day, talk to a clinician regardless of the number.
Is my data private?
Yes. The screener runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are never sent to our servers. We send a single anonymous event with the severity bucket (e.g. 'moderate') and whether the safety question was non-zero — never the raw score, never per-item answers, never anything that identifies you.
Sources
- The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure — Journal of General Internal Medicine (Kroenke, Spitzer, Williams 2001) (peer reviewed, retrieved 2026-04-26)
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners — instrument library — Pfizer Inc. (public use) (guideline, retrieved 2026-04-26)
- Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222) — NICE (guideline, retrieved 2026-04-26)