PHQ-9 scoring
Use the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to support your clinical assessment. Enter the client’s responses below to calculate a total and review the severity band. This tool is for clinicians and supports, rather than replaces, a clinical interview.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Answered 0 of 9
Running total: 0 / 27
Answer every scored item to see the result and copy it.
Answers stay in this browser. Nothing is saved or sent.
How to score the PHQ-9
- Ask the client to consider the last two weeks and choose one answer for each of the 9 symptom items.
- Assign each answer its points: Not at all (0), Several days (1), More than half the days (2), Nearly every day (3).
- Add the scored answers for a total from 0 to 27. Do not add the optional difficulty question.
- Compare the complete total with the severity bands below, then review it with the client in a clinical interview.
PHQ-9 severity bands
| Total score | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | minimal |
| 5 to 9 | mild |
| 10 to 14 | moderate |
| 15 to 19 | moderately severe |
| 20 to 27 | severe |
What the score means and what it does not
A total of 10 or more is the usual cut-off for a likely depressive disorder that needs further assessment. The PHQ-9 is a screening measure, not a diagnosis. Confirm findings with a clinical interview, including symptoms, daily functioning, history, and safety. A low total does not rule out a need for care.
Using the PHQ-9 over time
Use the PHQ-9 at intake and every few weeks when clinically appropriate. Track changes alongside the client’s account of daily life and your clinical interview. Each response covers the last two weeks; a change in score alone does not establish recovery or a treatment effect.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good PHQ-9 score?
Scores from 0 to 4 fall in the minimal range. There is no single target that fits every client. Consider functioning, symptoms, and safety alongside the total.
What does a PHQ-9 score of 10 mean?
A score of 10 is in the moderate range and meets the usual cut-off for further assessment of a likely depressive disorder. It does not establish a diagnosis.
How often should I repeat the PHQ-9?
Consider intake and every few weeks, guided by clinical need. Use the same two-week recall period and discuss changes with the client.
Can clients fill in the PHQ-9 themselves?
Yes. It is a self-report measure. Review the responses with the client and clarify anything unclear during the clinical interview.
What should I do when item 9 is positive?
Complete a suicide risk assessment before the client leaves, following your safety protocol, regardless of the total. Item 9 alone does not establish the level of risk.
What is the difference between the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2?
The PHQ-2 uses the first two PHQ-9 items as a brief initial screen. The PHQ-9 includes all nine items to assess a wider range of depression symptoms and their severity.
Sources
The PHQ-9 was 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 it.