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Categories: Assessment , Health & Fitness , Psychology
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The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a concise, standardized, evidence-based screening tool that quantifies the frequency of nine core depressive symptoms over the previous two weeks. Each item captures a distinct psychological or somatic domain, enabling a quick yet reliable snapshot of a person’s current mood state and functional impact.

You answer each question by selecting how often the statement applied—ranging from Not at all to Nearly every day. The tool converts those selections into numeric values, sums them automatically, and visualises the total on an interactive gauge. A colour-coded label then translates the score into one of five clinically recognised severity bands.

Easily complete the assessment during a lunch break to track whether recent lifestyle changes are improving your mood or to decide whether it is time to consult a professional. Treat the result as a conversation starter, not a diagnosis, and never ignore persistent suicidal thoughts. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

The PHQ-9 translates subjective symptom frequency into a numeric score ranging from 0 to 27. Each of the nine items aligns with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria for major depressive disorder. Summing individual item scores yields a quantitative proxy for depression severity that correlates with functional impairment, treatment response, and suicide risk. The questionnaire’s brevity enables repeated use in both primary-care and digital self-help contexts without respondent fatigue.

Total= ∑i=19 qi
where qi ∈ {0,1,2,3} represents the frequency score for question i.
Score RangeSeverity Label
0 – 4Minimal
5 – 9Mild
10 – 14Moderate
15 – 19Moderately Severe
20 – 27Severe

A higher band suggests greater symptom burden and a stronger indication for professional evaluation.

  • qi — item frequency score (0–3).
  • Total — sum of all item scores.
  • Severity band — qualitative category derived from the total.

Example: A user answers [1, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1, 1, 0, 0].

Intermediate sum: 1+2+1+0+2+1+1+0+0 = 8.

Total = 8 → Mild severity.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Responses reflect the past two weeks only.
  • Self-reporting may under- or over-state symptom frequency.
  • Tool does not evaluate other mental-health conditions.
  • Cut-off bands assume adult populations.

Edge Cases & Error Sources

  • Unanswered items produce an invalid total.
  • Uniform “Not at all” answers yield Minimal score even when context suggests masking.
  • Cultural interpretation of items can shift frequency perception.
  • Suicidal-ideation item answered “Nearly every day” demands immediate attention regardless of total score.

Validity supported by Kroenke et al. (2001), Löwe et al. (2004), and multiple meta-analyses confirming strong sensitivity and specificity for major depressive disorder.

All calculations run locally; no personal data leaves the device, aligning with GDPR principles on data minimisation.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Complete the assessment in four straightforward steps.

  1. Press Start Assessment to display the first item.
  2. Select a frequency for each question; Not at all to Nearly every day.
  3. Use the side list to revisit any item before finishing.
  4. Review your total, gauge, and personalised guidance; consider sharing results with a clinician if severity is Moderate or higher.

FAQ:

How long does it take? Most users finish in under two minutes because the questionnaire has only nine items.
Is my data stored? No. All inputs stay within your browser and disappear when you close the page.
What if I skip a question? The tool requires an answer for every item; missed entries keep the Submit button disabled.
Can I retake it later? Yes. Refresh the page to clear answers or bookmark your unique result code for future comparison.
Who created the PHQ-9? The instrument was developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, and Williams for the Patient Health Questionnaire study.

Glossary:

PHQ-9
Nine-item depression screening questionnaire.
Frequency Score
Numeric value assigned to each response (0–3).
Severity Band
Qualitative category derived from total score.
Gauge Display
Semi-circular indicator showing total score against full range.
Self-Assessment
Evaluation completed by the user without clinician guidance.

No data is transmitted or stored server-side.

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