0–4
None–minimal symptom range.
Clinical screening tool
Depression Screen (PHQ-9)
Check depressive symptoms over the past 2 weeks with the PHQ-9. Your total score and established severity range are free. This is a screening result—not a diagnosis.
What this doesFocused self-checkTimeAbout 2–4 minutesPrivacyNo signupResultFree full result
Free full result9 itemsAbout 2–4 minutesAdults 18+No signup
Full basic result · no account · no email · full basic result is free
Useful before signupSee the complete basic result first.
Method visiblePHQ-9 standard 0–3 scoring; total 0–27; established symptom-severity ranges
Private by defaultAnswers stay in this browser tab while you complete the assessment.
Instrument registrySee rights, evidence and limitations →What you will do
Answer based on the last 2 weeks.
Choose how often each problem has bothered you during the previous 2 weeks.
- There are 9 symptom questions.
- Each response is scored from 0 to 3.
- The score, severity range, safety guidance, and next steps are free.
- One question asks about death or self-harm thoughts; urgent guidance appears when relevant.
What the PHQ-9 measures
Nine depressive symptoms over the previous 2 weeks.
The PHQ-9 asks how often nine symptoms have bothered you. Each item is scored 0–3 and the total ranges from 0–27. Established ranges describe symptom severity; they do not by themselves establish a diagnosis.
5–9
Mild symptom range.
10–14
Moderate symptom range.
15–19
Moderately severe symptom range.
20–27
Severe symptom range.
Important
Any positive response to the self-harm/death-thought item needs appropriate follow-up; that item alone cannot determine immediate suicide risk.
Scoring and interpretation
How the free PHQ-9 result is calculated
Responses are scored 0 for “Not at all,” 1 for “Several days,” 2 for “More than half the days,” and 3 for “Nearly every day.” The nine scores are added for a total from 0 to 27.
The complete score and severity range are free. We do not make someone pay to learn their basic clinical screening result or see safety guidance.
A positive screen should be followed by additional assessment before diagnosis or treatment decisions.
Safety
The ninth question requires special care.
One PHQ-9 item asks about thoughts of being better off dead or hurting yourself. A positive answer is important, but PHQ-9 item 9 is not a complete suicide-risk assessment.
If you may act on self-harm thoughts, have a plan, or cannot stay safe, use emergency/crisis help now. In the U.S., call or text 988; call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.
What this screen can and cannot tell you
A score can flag symptom burden; a clinician evaluates the full picture.
Depression diagnosis depends on more than a total score. A professional may consider functioning, duration, bipolar symptoms, grief, medical causes, medication effects, substance use, sleep, and other mental-health conditions.
Clinical review and use limits
This screening implementation should not be treated as a validated clinical or diagnostic tool unless an independent qualified reviewer verifies the exact instrument version, wording, scoring, safety behavior, sources, privacy flow, and U.S.-first care guidance.
Sources and instrument governance
Why we use the PHQ-9 carefully.
- PHQ Screeners — official PHQ/GAD screener source
- AHRQ Integration Academy — PHQ-9 resource
- USPSTF — depression and suicide-risk screening recommendation
- NIMH — depression information and crisis guidance
PHQ-9 is © Pfizer Inc. and is made available through PHQ Screeners subject to the applicable terms. Use remains subject to rights and clinical-review verification.
Frequently asked questions
Before you take a depression screen
Does a PHQ-9 score diagnose depression?
No. It is a screening and symptom-severity tool. Positive results need further assessment before diagnosis.
Is the PHQ-9 result free?
Yes. The total score, severity range, safety guidance, limitations, and basic next steps are free with no signup or email required.
What if I answer positively to the self-harm question?
The result page immediately prioritizes safety guidance. Item 9 alone cannot determine immediate suicide risk, so a fuller safety assessment may be needed.
What the score means
A PHQ-9 result measures current symptom burden, not the cause of those symptoms
The total is useful because it summarizes nine depressive symptoms over the same time window. It does not determine whether symptoms come from major depression, bipolar depression, grief, trauma, a medical condition, medication effects, substance use, sleep disruption or another cause.
| Use the PHQ-9 for | Do not use it for |
|---|---|
| Screening for current depressive symptoms | Making a diagnosis without clinical assessment |
| Describing severity and functional impact | Choosing medication or treatment by score alone |
| Tracking symptoms over time | Ruling out bipolar disorder or other explanations |
Any response involving thoughts of death or self-harm deserves direct safety follow-up regardless of the total score. For broader interpretation, read the depression symptoms and help hub and depression vs sadness.
What to do after a depression screen
If the result concerns you, note which symptoms are most disruptive and whether they are affecting sleep, work, study, relationships or self-care. Bring the score to a professional conversation if useful, but describe the actual pattern rather than relying on the number alone.
Any self-harm or suicide-related response deserves direct follow-up. A low total score should not be used to dismiss immediate safety concerns.
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Assessment privacy and limits
No payment or email is required to complete this free assessment. Your basic result is shown in the assessment flow, and any optional paid report is presented separately.
Read before or after the screen
These educational guides explain the surrounding clinical concepts. They do not replace diagnosis or professional assessment.