If you have used the self-check screeners on this site, or filled one out in a clinic, you have probably met the PHQ-9. It is short, free, and appears almost everywhere depression is discussed. Understanding what it does, and what it does not do, helps you make sense of your result.

What the PHQ-9 measures

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire, 9 items) asks how often, over the past two weeks, you have been bothered by nine specific symptoms, from low interest and low mood to changes in sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration. Each item is scored from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"), giving a total between 0 and 27.

The nine items map directly onto the recognized criteria for a major depressive episode, which is part of why the tool has held up so well across decades of use.

What the score bands mean

Research generally groups total scores into severity bands:

  • 0–4: minimal symptoms
  • 5–9: mild
  • 10–14: moderate
  • 15–19: moderately severe
  • 20–27: severe

A score of 10 or above is the most commonly cited threshold at which clinicians consider a fuller assessment for depression worthwhile. But a threshold is a signpost, not a verdict.

Why a score is not a diagnosis

This is the most important point, and the one most easily lost. A screener is designed to be sensitive, to catch as many people who might be depressed as possible, which means it will sometimes flag people who, on closer assessment, are not clinically depressed. Grief, a thyroid problem, a rough two weeks, chronic pain, or poor sleep can all raise a score.

Diagnosis requires a trained professional who can consider your history, rule out medical causes, gauge how much the symptoms interfere with your life, and understand the context. The PHQ-9 opens that conversation; it does not replace it.

One item deserves special attention

Question nine asks about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself. A response above zero here matters regardless of the total score. It does not mean something is wrong with you, and it is more common than many people expect, but it is worth taking seriously and worth talking about with someone today. In the United States you can call or text 988 at any time to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Using your result well

A single score is a snapshot, not a trend. Two things make it more useful:

  1. Track it over time. A score moving from 16 to 9 over several weeks tells you more than either number alone.
  2. Bring it to a professional. Whether your score is high or borderline, a clinician can help you interpret it in the context of your whole life.

Think of the PHQ-9 as a thermometer. It can tell you something is worth attention. It cannot, by itself, tell you why, or what to do next.

This article is educational and is not a diagnosis or medical advice.