PHQ-9
Patient Health Questionnaire-9
Instructions: Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
For each question, select the number that best describes your experience:
0 = Not at all
1 = Several days
2 = More than half the days
3 = Nearly every day
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following?
Score (0-3)
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
Follow-Up Question: If you scored any of these questions, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
How to Calculate Your Score
Add up the numbers you selected for all 9 questions. Your total score will be between 0 and 27.
What Your Score Means
0–4: Minimal Depression. Symptoms may not be significantly impacting your daily life.
5–9: Mild Depression. You may be experiencing low mood or energy. Monitoring and self-care are recommended.
10–14: Moderate Depression. Symptoms are likely interfering with your daily routine and relationships.
15–19: Moderately Severe Depression. These symptoms are significant and warrant active professional support.
20–27: Severe Depression. Symptoms are intense and persistent. It is highly recommended that you seek immediate support from a mental health professional.
Important Note on Question 9: If you have scored "Several days" or higher for Question 9 or if you are in immediate distress or having thoughts of hurting yourself, please reach out for support. You are not alone, and help is available 24/7.
Call or Text: Dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
Emergency: Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
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Credits & Citations
Source: Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
