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Free depression screen

Depression test (PHQ-9)

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 6 minutes

The PHQ-9 is the most widely used depression screen in primary care and mental health clinics. Nine questions, two minutes, and a number that maps to what to do next.

This page lets you take it on your own. The PHQ-9 is a screen, not a diagnosis. A score does not replace an evaluation by a clinician. It does, however, give you and a clinician a shared starting point.

Take the PHQ-9

Answer based on the past two weeks. There are no right answers and no penalty for honesty. Your responses are not stored; the score is calculated on this page only.

Patient Health Questionnaire-9

Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following?

  1. 1.Little interest or pleasure in doing things

  2. 2.Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

  3. 3.Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much

  4. 4.Feeling tired or having little energy

  5. 5.Poor appetite or overeating

  6. 6.Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure, or have let yourself or your family down

  7. 7.Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television

  8. 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. 9.Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way

0 of 9 answered.

How the PHQ-9 is scored

Each item is scored 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days), or 3 (nearly every day). The total ranges from 0 to 27.

  • 0 to 4: minimal or no symptoms
  • 5 to 9: mild depression
  • 10 to 14: moderate depression
  • 15 to 19: moderately severe depression
  • 20 to 27: severe depression

A score of 10 or higher is the most common cutoff for a positive screen, with sensitivity around 88 percent and specificity around 88 percent for major depressive disorder (Kroenke, 2001).

What item 9 means

Question 9 asks about thoughts of being better off dead or of self-harm. Any answer above zero on item 9 is a reason for same-day contact with a clinician, regardless of the total score. This is true even when the total score is low.

If you may be in danger, call or text 988 in the United States, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency department. See crisis resources.

How to use a PHQ-9 score

The PHQ-9 is most useful in three ways:

  1. To start a conversation. Bring the score to a primary care or mental health visit. It saves time and gives the visit a clear focus.
  2. To track change. A drop of 5 points or more, or a final score below 5, is the standard definition of a meaningful response and remission. Repeating the PHQ-9 every two to four weeks during treatment is the routine in many clinics.
  3. To screen at intervals. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults for depression with a Grade B recommendation. The PHQ-9 (or its short form, the PHQ-2) is the most common tool used.

When the PHQ-9 is not enough

The PHQ-9 was built for unipolar depression. It does not screen for bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, substance use, or trauma. Several conditions look like depression on a PHQ-9 but need different treatment.

  • Bipolar depression. A clinician asks about every prior period of unusually elevated mood, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, and high energy lasting at least four days. Standard antidepressants alone can destabilize bipolar disorder.
  • Anxiety. About half of people with depression also have an anxiety disorder. Many clinicians pair the PHQ-9 with the GAD-7.
  • Postpartum depression. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the preferred screen during pregnancy and the first postpartum year.
  • Medical contributors. Thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea, and several medications can produce depression-like symptoms. A clinical evaluation looks for these.

What to do next

If your score is 10 or higher, or if any answer on item 9 is above zero, the next step is a clinical evaluation. A primary care clinician can manage many cases of depression and is often the easiest starting point. A psychiatrist is appropriate when the diagnosis is unclear, when there is a question of bipolar disorder, when prior medications have not worked, or when symptoms include suicidal thoughts.

For finding a clinician, see How to find a therapist. For an overview of treatment, see Depression treatment, explained.

Related

Frequently asked questions

Is the PHQ-9 accurate?
The PHQ-9 has been validated in many populations. At a cutoff of 10, sensitivity is about 88 percent and specificity is about 88 percent for major depressive disorder. It is the most widely used depression screen in primary care and mental health clinics in the United States.
Is my score stored anywhere?
No. The score is calculated only in your browser. We do not save responses, IP addresses tied to scores, or any identifying information from this screen.
What if I score zero?
A score of zero means you did not endorse any of the nine symptoms over the past two weeks. That does not mean nothing is wrong, only that the PHQ-9 did not capture it. If something feels off, talk with a clinician.
Can I use the PHQ-9 to track treatment?
Yes. Many clinics repeat the PHQ-9 every two to four weeks during active treatment. A drop of 5 points or more, or a final score below 5, is the standard definition of a meaningful response and remission.
What if my score is high but I do not want to take medication?
You do not have to. Psychotherapy alone is first-line for mild to moderate depression and has evidence comparable to antidepressants in that range. A clinical evaluation is still the next step, because matching the right treatment to the right person is the part that usually takes time.
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Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. Last reviewed March 15, 2026.

Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.