Frequently Asked Questions about PHQ-9 Depression Screening

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is the international gold standard clinical screening tool for adult depression. It maps directly onto the 9 diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder in the DSM-5 and ICD-11.
No. The PHQ-9 is a clinical self-screening instrument designed to evaluate symptom severity and assist healthcare providers. A formal medical or psychiatric diagnosis can only be made by a licensed doctor, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist.
Scores range from 0 to 27 across 5 clinical tiers: 0-4 (Minimal/None), 5-9 (Mild Depression), 10-14 (Moderate Depression), 15-19 (Moderately Severe), and 20-27 (Severe Depression).
Yes, 100%. All test responses and score calculations run entirely in your web browser. No health data or personal answers are ever stored on or transmitted to external servers.
Upon completing the screening, you receive a formatted clinical briefing listing your total score, DSM-5 symptom breakdown, and discussion prompts that you can print or copy for your psychotherapist or doctor.