PHQ-9 Depression Score Calculator

Enter Calculation

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems? (0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half the days, 3 = Nearly every day)

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

3. Trouble falling/staying asleep, or sleeping too much 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

4. Feeling tired or having little energy 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

5. Poor appetite or overeating 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

6. Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

7. Trouble concentrating on things 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

8. Moving/speaking slowly, or being fidgety/restless 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

Results

PHQ-9 Total Score

0

out of 27 — Minimal or none

Score range	Severity
0–4	Minimal or none
5–9	Mild
10–14	Moderate
15–19	Moderately severe
20–27	Severe

This tool is for informational screening only and is not a diagnosis. If item 9 (self-harm) is scored above 0, please seek professional help promptly.

What is the PHQ-9?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used self-report screening instrument for depression. It contains nine items that correspond to the nine diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Each item asks how often you have been bothered by a particular problem over the last two weeks, scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). This calculator is for general informational and self-screening purposes and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis.

How to use this calculator

Answer all nine questions honestly based on the past two weeks. Select a value from 0 to 3 for each item, then submit. The calculator adds up the nine responses to give a total between 0 and 27 and tells you which severity band that total falls into.

The formula explained

The score is simply the sum of the nine item responses: $$\text{Total} = \text{q}_1 + \text{q}_2 + \ldots + \text{q}_9$$ Because each item ranges 0–3 and there are nine items, the minimum possible score is 0 and the maximum is 27. The total is then interpreted using standard cut-off bands: 0–4 minimal or none, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, and 20–27 severe.

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Each of the 9 items scores 0–3; the sum gives the total.

PHQ-9 total scores (0–27) map to severity bands from minimal to severe.

Worked example

Suppose someone answers: \(\text{q}_1=2\), \(\text{q}_2=2\), \(\text{q}_3=3\), \(\text{q}_4=2\), \(\text{q}_5=1\), \(\text{q}_6=1\), \(\text{q}_7=2\), \(\text{q}_8=0\), \(\text{q}_9=0\). Adding these gives $$2+2+3+2+1+1+2+0+0 = 13.$$ A total of 13 falls in the 10–14 range, so the result is "Moderate" depression severity.

FAQ

Is a high score a diagnosis of depression? No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose depression, considering your full history and circumstances.

What does item 9 mean? Item 9 asks about thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead. Any score above 0 here should prompt you to seek help from a professional or crisis line right away, regardless of your total.

How often should I retake it? Clinicians often repeat the PHQ-9 every few weeks to track changes over time, since it is sensitive to treatment response.