What the PHQ-9 measures
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used depression screeners in primary care and mental health care. Its nine questions follow the nine symptoms clinicians look for when they assess depression: loss of interest or pleasure, low or hopeless mood, sleep changes, tiredness, appetite changes, feeling like a failure, trouble concentrating, moving or speaking unusually slowly or restlessly, and thoughts of death or self-harm.
Each question asks how often a symptom has bothered you over the last two weeks. That short window makes the PHQ-9 a snapshot of how you are doing right now. It is also why therapists often repeat it every few weeks to see whether symptoms are changing.
How the PHQ-9 is scored
Every answer carries points: Not at all = 0, Several days = 1, More than half the days = 2, and Nearly every day = 3. This page adds up your nine answers, so your total falls between 0 and 27. The total then lands in one of five published severity ranges: minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), moderately severe (15–19), and severe (20–27).
In research and in clinics, a total of 10 or higher is the point most often used to suggest that a fuller evaluation for depression is worthwhile.
Question 9 matters on its own
Question 9 asks about thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself. Any answer other than "Not at all" matters on its own, whatever your total score. If that was your answer, please reach out today: call or text 988, or call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
What a screening can't tell you
A PHQ-9 score is not a diagnosis. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose depression, after a conversation about your history, your health, and what is going on in your life.
- Other things can cause the same symptoms, including thyroid problems, anemia, medication side effects, alcohol or drug use, poor sleep, and grief.
- The PHQ-9 does not screen for bipolar disorder. If you have had stretches of unusually high energy, racing thoughts, or very little need for sleep, tell your clinician.
- A low score does not mean your struggles aren't real. If something feels wrong, it is worth talking through.
- Your answers reflect the last two weeks only, and one hard week can raise them.
When to talk to a therapist
Consider reaching out if your score is 10 or higher, if symptoms have lasted longer than two weeks, or if they are getting in the way of work, school, sleep, or relationships. You don't need a particular score to start therapy. Many people begin simply because they want support.
Therapy for depression is collaborative. Your therapist may draw on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which research supports for depression, and will explain their approach in plain language. If medication could help, a medical provider prescribes it, not your therapist, and the two can work side by side.