PHQ-9 Depression Screener
Score the PHQ-9 depression screener.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- PHQ-9 item 1
- 1
- PHQ-9 item 2
- 1
- PHQ-9 item 3
- 1
- PHQ-9 item 4
- 2
- PHQ-9 item 5
- 1
- PHQ-9 item 6
- 0
- PHQ-9 item 7
- 1
- PHQ-9 item 8
- 0
- PHQ-9 item 9
- 0
Result: Score 7 of 27 = Mild depression.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- 0-4
- None / minimal depression per source.
- 5-9
- Mild depression per source.
- 10-14
- Moderate depression per source.
- 15-19
- Moderately severe depression per source.
- 20-27
- Severe depression per source.
What you enter
- PHQ-9 item 1 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 2 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 3 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 4 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 5 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 6 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 7 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 8 (0-3)
- PHQ-9 item 9 (0-3)
What this is
Sophie Well sums the nine 0-3 item responses and returns the total (0-27) plus the conventional severity band (none/minimal 0-4, mild 5-9, moderate 10-14, moderately severe 15-19, severe 20-27). Item 9 (self-harm thoughts) is flagged separately as a safety prompt. Source: Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. J Gen Intern Med 2001.
When to use it
Use PHQ-9 for adult depression screening in primary care, OB, and inpatient settings, and for serial monitoring of response to treatment. A positive PHQ-9 is the beginning of a clinical interview, not a diagnosis; item 9 always warrants a direct safety conversation regardless of the total.
How this is calculated
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. PHQ-9. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-613. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.
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