About the PHQ-9 Depression Test
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is the most widely used depression questionnaire in primary care. It asks how often, over the last two weeks, you have been bothered by each of the nine symptoms that make up the DSM criteria for major depression, scoring each from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"). This calculator adds the answers into a total from 0 to 27 and places it in the severity bands published by Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams in 2001.
It is useful for anyone who has been asked to fill in a PHQ-9 by a clinician, wants to track mood over time, or wants to check whether symptoms are worth raising with a doctor. The PHQ-2 subscore (the first two questions) is shown too, because many services use it as a quick first-stage screen. The PHQ-9 was validated in adult primary care and obstetrics-gynaecology patients in the US.
A questionnaire score is not a diagnosis: depression is diagnosed in a clinical interview that also rules out other causes such as thyroid disease, medication effects or bereavement. Any answer above zero on question 9 — thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead — should be discussed with a professional promptly, whatever the total.
With the default inputs, the phq-9 total score is 0 / 27. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the phq-9 depression test
- 1Think about the last two weeks only.
- 2For each of the nine problems, choose how often it has bothered you.
- 3Answer the final question about how much the problems affect daily life.
- 4Read your total score and severity band.
- 5Share the result with a clinician — especially if it is 10 or more or question 9 is above zero.
Formula and method
Each of the nine items is scored 0 for "not at all", 1 for "several days", 2 for "more than half the days" and 3 for "nearly every day" over the previous two weeks, and the total is the simple sum. Kroenke and colleagues found that totals of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mark the lower limits of mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe depression, and that a cut-off of 10 or more detected major depression with 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity.
The final question about how much the problems interfere with daily life is not added to the score; it is reported separately to show functional impact. Item 9 is flagged on its own because any positive answer warrants a direct safety conversation.
- item n
- Answer to question n: 0 not at all, 1 several days, 2 more than half the days, 3 nearly every day
- PHQ-2
- Sum of the first two items (interest and mood), used as a brief screen
Worked examples
Mostly "several days" answers
The answers add up to 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 = 7, which falls in the mild band (5–9). The PHQ-2 subscore is 1 + 1 = 2, below the usual screening threshold of 3.
Moderately severe symptoms
Adding 2 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 0 gives 16, inside the moderately severe band of 15–19. The PHQ-2 subscore of 5 is a positive screen, and the person reports the problems make daily life very difficult.
Low total but positive item 9
The total of 4 is in the minimal band, but question 9 is answered "several days". Any non-zero item 9 is flagged separately because thoughts of self-harm need prompt professional attention regardless of the total.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal PHQ-9 score?+
Scores of 0–4 are classed as minimal or no depression. Scores of 5–9 indicate mild symptoms, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe and 20–27 severe depression, according to the original validation study.
What PHQ-9 score indicates depression?+
A total of 10 or more is the most commonly used cut-off for possible major depression; in the original study it had 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity. Only a clinical assessment can confirm a diagnosis.
Can I diagnose myself with the PHQ-9?+
No. The PHQ-9 measures how often you have had depressive symptoms, but a clinician must rule out other causes such as thyroid problems, medication side effects, grief or bipolar disorder before diagnosing depression.
Why does question 9 matter so much?+
Question 9 asks about thoughts of death or self-harm. Even an answer of "several days" with a low total should prompt a conversation with a professional, and urgent help if the thoughts are strong or you have a plan.
How often should I take the PHQ-9?+
It covers the previous two weeks, so clinicians typically repeat it every 2–4 weeks to track change. A drop of 5 points or more is generally regarded as a clinically meaningful improvement.
Is the PHQ-9 free to use?+
Yes. The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs Spitzer, Williams and Kroenke with an educational grant from Pfizer, and it can be reproduced, translated and used without permission.
For healthcare professionals and education only. This calculator implements a published formula or score but is not a diagnosis and does not replace clinical judgment. Verify inputs and results against the original source before using them in patient care.