What it measures
How often the nine core symptoms of depression have bothered you over the last two weeks, from loss of interest and low mood to sleep, energy, concentration and thoughts of self-harm. The most widely used short depression screener in the world.
How a result is read
Kocalevent et al. (2013), representative German general population, N = 5,018 (norms-library CLN-PHQ9). A total of 10 or more is the standard screening threshold for probable major depression (Kroenke et al., 2001).
Your score is read against adults generally. The bands below come from the shape of a normal distribution, which is the model the scoring assumes rather than a count from a reference sample. Most people sit in the middle and both ends are rare by definition, so a band is a position in a distribution, not a verdict.
Good uses
- A quick check on how the last two weeks have been.
- A starting point for a conversation with a doctor or psychologist.
- Repeating it over time to see whether things are changing.
Known limits
- It counts symptoms over two weeks; it cannot tell what is causing them.
- It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and does not replace speaking to a professional.
Before you start
This result is not a diagnosis. The questionnaire counts how often you have noticed certain experiences recently; it cannot tell why they are there or what they mean for you. Only a qualified clinician can do that, in a conversation that takes your history and your situation into account. A high score is a reason to talk to someone; a low score does not rule anything out if you are struggling.
If you are in Montenegro and need help now: call 124 for emergency medical help or 112 for any emergency, or go to the nearest emergency department (hitna pomoć). Outside Montenegro, contact your local emergency number or crisis line.
Other tests
Covering similar ground: Depression Screener (PHQ-8), Two-Question Depression Check (PHQ-2), Four-Question Anxiety and Depression Check (PHQ-4), Anxiety Screener (GAD-7).
Where these come from
PHQ and GAD-7 screeners developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.