The Cardiovascular
ToolsCalculators

PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)

Nine-item self-report measure of depressive symptom severity over the past 2 weeks.

PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
Little interest or pleasure in doing things
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
Trouble falling/staying asleep, or sleeping too much
Feeling tired or having little energy
Poor appetite or overeating
Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure
Trouble concentrating on things
Moving/speaking slowly, or being fidgety/restless
Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself
Result0 / 27

Minimal depression

When to use

  • Screening for and grading the severity of depression, and monitoring treatment response over time.

Formula

Sum of 9 items, each rated 0-3. Range 0-27. Bands: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Any positive response (>0) on the suicidality item warrants direct clinical follow-up regardless of total score.

References

  1. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-13.