Depression symptom check

The PHQ-9 is the most widely used depression screening questionnaire. Answer for how things have been over the past two weeks. Scoring happens on your device; nothing is uploaded.

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), published by Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams in 2001, is the most widely used depression screening questionnaire in clinical practice and research. Its nine items map directly onto the DSM criteria for major depression.

Scoring is a simple sum across the nine items, giving a total of 0-27. Common bands: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe. A score of 10 or above is the usual threshold prompting further evaluation.

The PHQ-9 is a screen, not a diagnosis. It measures symptom frequency over the past two weeks; only a clinician can weigh duration, impairment and history. Question 9 asks about thoughts of self-harm and deserves attention whatever the total.

Source: PHQ-9 · Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams · Public domain; free to use and translate (phqscreeners.com) · Original source

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
5. Poor appetite or overeating
6. Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure, or have let yourself or your family down
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
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. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way