Symptom Checker

PHQ-9 Calculator

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used, nine-item self-report screening tool that asks how often depressive symptoms have bothered you over the last two weeks. It is used by clinicians, researchers, and digital health tools as a quick way to gauge the severity of depressive symptoms and to track how those symptoms change over time.

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

1Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4Feeling tired or having little energy
5Poor appetite or overeating
6Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
7Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
8Moving 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
9Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way

Question 9 asks about thoughts of self-harm or that you would be better off dead. This item helps flag a symptom that deserves immediate attention, not casual dismissal — regardless of how you answer the other items.

How the score is calculated

Each of the nine items corresponds to one of the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. You rate how often each symptom has affected you over the past two weeks on a 0–3 scale, and the nine ratings are added together for a total score ranging from 0 to 27. A higher total generally reflects greater symptom burden, but the number alone does not capture context, duration beyond two weeks, or functional impairment — all of which a clinician would weigh during a full evaluation.

Important limitations

  • The PHQ-9 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic interview — it cannot, by itself, establish that someone has major depressive disorder.
  • It reflects the past two weeks only and does not account for medical conditions, grief, medication effects, or situational stress that can produce similar symptoms.
  • Cultural background, literacy, and how a question is understood can all influence responses.
  • A single score is a snapshot; tracking scores over time alongside clinical judgment is more informative than one result in isolation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PHQ-9?

It is a nine-item questionnaire used to screen for and monitor the severity of depressive symptoms, based directly on the diagnostic criteria used to describe major depressive disorder.

How is the PHQ-9 score calculated?

Each of the nine items is scored 0 to 3 based on how often it applied to you in the last two weeks. The nine item scores are added together for a total between 0 and 27.

What does my PHQ-9 score mean?

Higher totals are generally associated with more severe depressive symptoms, but the number should be interpreted alongside your overall history and circumstances, ideally with a healthcare professional.

Is the PHQ-9 a diagnosis?

No. It is a screening and symptom-tracking tool. A diagnosis requires a clinical evaluation that considers your full history, other possible causes of your symptoms, and how they affect your daily functioning.

How often can I complete the PHQ-9?

Many clinicians re-administer it every two to four weeks to monitor how symptoms change, for example during treatment.

What should I do if I selected a concerning answer on question 9?

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away. This tool cannot provide emergency support.

Sources & References

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