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Free resources · Self-assessment test

Depression test (PHQ-9)

9 questions, 3 minutes, to take stock of your mood over the last two weeks

The PHQ-9 is the most widely used questionnaire in the world for spotting depression, by doctors and psychologists alike. It measures how much depressive symptoms have bothered you over the last two weeks.

It is not a diagnosis: it is a reference point, to put words and numbers to what you are going through. Only a professional can carry out a full assessment.

🔒 Your answers stay on your device: nothing is sent or stored.

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

These are the questions of the official UK English version of the questionnaire: they are not changed, so the test stays reliable.

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
5. Poor appetite or overeating
6. Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite — being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way

Your result

0out of 27

0510152027

This result is a reference point, not a diagnosis. It does not replace a professional's opinion.

What now?

When your mood is lowThe guide: understanding low mood and what helpsFilling my week againA worksheet to gradually bring back activities that matterMy activity and mood logA worksheet to see what lifts your moodAll the worksheets on moodMood, self-esteem, values

If you are having suicidal thoughts or feel in danger: call 112 (emergency number in Europe), 3114 in France, or your local emergency number.

About this test

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. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute it.

The cut-off points 5, 10, 15 and 20 correspond to mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe symptoms. A score of 10 or more is the most widely used reference point for recommending a professional assessment. Whatever the score, any answer other than “Not at all” to question 9 is worth talking about soon.

Sources

  1. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606-613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x
  2. Manea, L., Gilbody, S., & McMillan, D. (2012). Optimal cut-off score for diagnosing depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): A meta-analysis. CMAJ, 184(3), E191-E196. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.110829
  3. Levis, B., Benedetti, A., Thombs, B. D., & DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. (2019). Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: Individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ, 365, l1476. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1476
  4. Diez-Quevedo, C., Rangil, T., Sanchez-Planell, L., Kroenke, K., & Spitzer, R. L. (2001). Validation and utility of the Patient Health Questionnaire in diagnosing mental disorders in 1003 general hospital Spanish inpatients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 63(4), 679-686. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200107000-00021
  5. Carballeira, Y., Dumont, P., Borgacci, S., Rentsch, D., de Tonnac, N., Archinard, M., & Andreoli, A. (2007). Criterion validity of the French version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) in a hospital department of internal medicine. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 80(1), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.1348/147608306X103641
  6. Pfizer Inc. PHQ and GAD-7 screeners and official translations. https://www.phqscreeners.com
Gonzalo Garzo, clinical psychologist

Gonzalo Garzo, clinical psychologist

A psychologist since 2018, I work with people online (in English, French or Spanish) and at my practice in La Rochelle, using third-wave CBT and EMDR. These worksheets help you move forward; if you need support, the first contact (20 min) is free.