Halil İbrahim Ayar Psychologist

PHQ-9 depression screening

Assess how often low mood and loss of interest have affected you over the last two weeks with nine short questions. Your answers are never sent anywhere.

What is the PHQ-9 for?

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is one of the most widely used depression screening scales in primary care and research worldwide. Its nine items ask about the core symptoms of depression over the last two weeks and produce a total score from 0 to 27.

The score isn't there to give you a label but to help you name what is going on inside. Sometimes putting “something isn't right” into numbers gives you the courage to ask for help.

How are scores interpreted?

ScoreSymptom levelGeneral advice
0–4MinimalNo clear pattern; keep observing how you feel.
5–9MildRe-check in a few weeks; sleep, movement and social contact matter.
10–14ModerateTalking to a mental health professional is recommended.
15–19Moderately severeA professional assessment and treatment plan are recommended.
20–27SevereIt is important to see a professional as soon as possible.

Item nine (thoughts of self-harm or death) is considered separately from the total score. If you answered anything other than “not at all” to this item, please read the guidance at the top of the result box.

How to use it

  1. Read each item thinking about the last two weeks.
  2. Choose the frequency that fits best: not at all, several days, more than half the days or nearly every day.
  3. When you've answered every item, press “Show result”.
  4. If you like, copy the result and share it with a professional.

Privacy

This tool never sends your answers to a server, uses no cookies and keeps no records. Your answers are cleared when you reload the page.

If your mood has been weighing on you for a while, don't hesitate to share it with someone close or a mental health professional. You can get in touch with me.

Frequently asked questions

Does the PHQ-9 give a diagnosis?
No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool that gives an idea of how severe symptoms are. Depression can only be diagnosed through a clinical interview with a mental health professional.
What score is considered high?
In research, a score of 10 or more is the commonly used threshold for moderate symptoms and suggests talking to a professional. But whatever your score, if you don't feel well you don't need a threshold to seek support.
Are my answers saved?
No. Answers are kept only in this page's memory, never sent to a server and are deleted when you close the page. You can copy the result to share with a professional if you wish.
How often can I take the test?
Because the scale asks about the last two weeks, repeating it every two to four weeks is enough to track change. If you're in treatment, decide the frequency together with your clinician.
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