PHQ 9 Depression Score Calculator

PHQ 9 Depression Score Calculator PHQ 9 Depression Score Explanation and Clinical Context PHQ 9 is a validated questionnaire used worldwide to screen the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. It evaluates nine core symptoms that reflect the diagnostic criteria of major depressive disorder. Each item is scored from zero to three and the total score ranges from zero to twenty seven.

Scores correlate with the severity of depression and guide clinicians toward appropriate management decisions. Minimal to mild scores often indicate the need for monitoring while moderate to severe scores may require structured therapy evaluation and potential initiation of pharmacologic treatment. PHQ 9 is also practical for tracking treatment response over time due to its sensitivity to clinical change.

Reference Kroenke K Spitzer RL Williams JB. The PHQ 9 validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine.

2001. 16. 606 to 613.