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 or 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 or have let yourself or your family down 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading or watching TV 0 - Not at all 1 - Several days 2 - More than half the days 3 - Nearly every day

8. Moving or speaking so slowly that others noticed, or being so fidgety or restless that you move around a lot more than usual 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 in some way 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

Severity	Minimal depression (0-4)
Severity Level (0-4)	0

What is the PHQ-9?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used, validated self-report screening tool for depression. It maps the nine diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder onto nine questions, each asking how often you have been bothered by a symptom over the last two weeks. This calculator adds your responses into a single 0-27 score and tells you the corresponding severity band. It is an educational screening aid, not a diagnosis — only a qualified clinician can diagnose depression.

PHQ-9 total scores map to five severity bands from minimal to severe.

How to use this calculator

For each of the nine items, pick the option that best describes how often the problem affected you over the past two weeks: 0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half the days, and 3 = Nearly every day. The calculator sums the nine values and classifies the result into one of five severity categories.

The formula explained

The PHQ-9 score is simply the sum of all nine item scores: $$\text{Score} = \sum_{i=1}^{9} Q_i = \text{Q1} + \text{Q2} + \text{Q3} + \text{Q4} + \text{Q5} + \text{Q6} + \text{Q7} + \text{Q8} + \text{Q9}$$ Because each item ranges from 0 to 3, the minimum possible score is 0 and the maximum is 27. Standard interpretation bands are: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, and 20-27 severe. A score of 10 or higher is the commonly used threshold suggesting that further clinical evaluation for depression may be warranted.

Each of the nine items scores 0-3 and the values are summed into one total.

Worked example

Suppose someone answers: \(q1=2\), \(q2=3\), \(q3=1\), \(q4=2\), \(q5=1\), \(q6=0\), \(q7=2\), \(q8=0\), \(q9=1\). The total is $$2+3+1+2+1+2+0+0+1 = 12$$ A score of 12 falls in the 10-14 band, which is classified as moderate depression. Because item 9 (thoughts of self-harm) is greater than 0, the result also flags that the person should seek support.

FAQ

Does a high score mean I have depression? No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool. A high score suggests you should discuss your symptoms with a healthcare professional for a proper assessment.

What does item 9 measure? Item 9 asks about thoughts of being better off dead or hurting yourself. Any score above 0 on this item warrants attention regardless of the total score. If you are having these thoughts, please seek help immediately — in the US call or text 988.

How often can I take it? The PHQ-9 is often repeated over time to track changes in symptoms and treatment response, typically every few weeks.