Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems? Select one answer for each question.

How to take the test

Answer all nine items thinking about how often each symptom has bothered you over the last two weeks — not today, and not over the last year. For each item, pick the option that best matches your recent experience: Not at all, Several days, More than half the days, or Nearly every day. Each option is worth 0, 1, 2, or 3 points respectively, and the total runs from 0 to 27. This depression test, depression quiz, and depression screening online use the same nine-item PHQ 9 patient health questionnaire 9 that clinicians use in primary care.

If you're not sure between two answers, pick the one closer to your overall sense of the last fortnight. The depression screener is designed to handle some imprecision — the goal is a useful estimate, not a stopwatch-accurate count. The depression test free version on this page produces exactly the same score as the depression test online versions used in research and clinical settings.

PHQ-9 score interpretation

Scoring a phq 9 works by adding the numeric value of each of the nine answers (0–3) — the phq 9 scoring rules are identical to those used in clinical practice. Use the score as a starting point for self-understanding, not a diagnosis. The five bands below describe what each phq 9 score range commonly indicates. (You'll also see this instrument written as PHQ9 without the dash; it's the same tool.)

0–4 Minimal depression Symptoms in this range are at a typical baseline. Most people land here from time to time. No specific clinical action is suggested by a score in this band — keeping up the basics (sleep, daylight, exercise, social contact) tends to keep scores here.
5–9 Mild depression Some symptoms are present and noticeable. At this level clinicians typically recommend watchful waiting and a recheck in a few weeks, plus attention to basics: regular sleep, physical activity, social connection, and reducing alcohol. Many people in this band don't need formal treatment, but it's worth tracking how things progress.
10–14 Moderate depression Symptoms are interfering with day-to-day functioning. A phq 9 score of 9 or 10 is often used in primary care as the threshold for clinically significant depression — once you cross it, treatment options like talking therapy or medication become reasonable to discuss with a doctor.
15–19 Moderately severe depression Symptoms are clearly interfering with most areas of life. Active treatment is typically recommended at this level — most often a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Please speak with a healthcare professional in the coming days, not weeks.
20–27 Severe depression Symptoms are severe and likely affecting most of daily life. Combined treatment (medication plus therapy) is typically recommended. If you're scoring here, please reach out to a doctor or mental health professional soon. If you're in crisis, the resources at the top of this page can help right now.

What your PHQ-9 score means

The phq 9 assessment tool — sometimes simply called the phq 9 tool — measures the same nine symptom areas that the DSM uses to define a major depressive episode: low mood, loss of interest, sleep changes, fatigue, appetite changes, feelings of worthlessness, concentration problems, psychomotor changes, and thoughts of self-harm. A high score doesn't pinpoint a cause — it signals that several of these symptoms are co-occurring at a level that warrants attention.

Depression has many overlaps with other conditions. People searching for a bipolar depression test online often score high on the PHQ-9 — but the PHQ-9 doesn't distinguish unipolar depression from bipolar depression, and a bipolar depression assessment requires asking about manic and hypomanic episodes too. A doctor or psychiatrist can sort this out. Likewise, scores in the moderate-to-severe bands during the first year after childbirth warrant a closer look — this same tool is widely used as a postpartum depression screening test and postpartum depression screening scale.

The PHQ-A (sometimes written PHQ A, without the dash) is an adapted version of this questionnaire for adolescents. Although the standard PHQ-9 is validated for adults, a similar nine-item depression test for teens (the PHQ-A) is used in pediatric settings. If you're a teenager taking this test, your score is still useful as a rough indicator, but you should bring it to a parent, school counselor, or doctor rather than acting on it alone.

When to see a doctor

Consider speaking with a doctor or a mental health professional if any of the following apply:

Your score is 10 or higher
You answered anything other than "Not at all" to question 9 (thoughts of self-harm)
Symptoms have lasted more than two weeks and aren't improving
Symptoms are interfering with work, study, relationships, or self-care
You have a personal or family history of depression, bipolar disorder, or suicide attempts
You're using alcohol or other substances to cope with how you feel

Depression is highly treatable. Most people who start treatment — whether psychotherapy, medication, or both — see meaningful improvement within two to three months. The earlier you reach out, the easier most depressive episodes are to interrupt.

Postpartum depression screening

The same nine items are widely used as a postpartum depression screening test in obstetric and pediatric clinics during the first year after childbirth. Although the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is more specific to perinatal depression, the PHQ-9 catches the same core symptoms and is used as a postpartum depression screening scale in many primary-care settings. If you're a new parent and your score is in the moderate range or higher, please tell your obstetrician, midwife, or your baby's pediatrician — perinatal mental health support is available and effective.

About the PHQ-9

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. It is in the public domain — no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute it. The PHQ-9 is one of the most-validated brief depression screening tools in primary care and has been translated into more than 80 languages.

"Am I depressed?" and the related "am i depressed quiz" are among the most common mental-health questions people ask online, and the PHQ-9 is the most commonly used clinical instrument for answering them. This depression test free, depression test online tool reproduces the standard scoring of a paper-and-pencil PHQ-9 — no signup, and your answers and your score are never sent to us. They stay in your browser and are gone the moment you reload the page.

Disclaimer. This is a screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis. PHQ-9 is widely used by clinicians but a clinical evaluation by a mental health professional is required for diagnosis. If you have concerns about your mood or are having thoughts of self-harm, please consult a healthcare professional or use the crisis resources at the top of this page.