PHQ-9 Depression Score Calculator
Score the PHQ-9: 9 items to a 0 to 27 total with severity bands.
What it does
The PHQ-9 compresses depression screening into nine plain questions. Each asks how often a symptom bothered the person over two weeks, scored 0 to 3, for a total from 0 to 27. Primary care clinics worldwide use it because it takes three minutes and tracks change.
The tool above scores the nine answers at once. Pick a frequency per item. It returns the total, the severity band, and a next step. Defaults total 12, so the page opens solved at Moderate with a consider treatment note.
Cutoffs carry validated meaning. Scores of 10 or more detected major depression with 88 percent sensitivity and specificity in the original Kroenke study of primary care and obstetrics clinics. Bands step at 5, 10, 15, and 20 through mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe.
Item 9 stands apart from the arithmetic. Any thoughts of being better off dead or of self harm need same day clinical review and a safety plan, whatever the total. The page says this in the result note because totals can look reassuring while risk is not.
Use the table to fix bands in memory, then answer honestly. Repeat every two weeks during treatment: a five point fall marks real response, and flat scores despite care deserve a plan change.
How to use
- Answer all 9 items for the last 2 weeks.
- Use 0 not at all through 3 nearly every day.
- Read the total first, then the band.
- Flag any item 9 answer for same day review.
- Repeat every 2 weeks during care.
- Bring the trend, not one number, to visits.
Formula
- Items
- Nine symptom ratings, each 0 to 3.
- Total
- Sum of all nine ratings.
- Cutoffs
- 5, 10, 15, 20 step through the bands.
Each item rates frequency over the last 2 weeks: 0 not at all, 1 several days, 2 more than half the days, 3 nearly every day. Bands: 0 to 4 none to minimal, 5 to 9 mild, 10 to 14 moderate, 15 to 19 moderately severe, 20 to 27 severe. Scores at or above 10 merit clinical attention.
Worked example
Example: total 12, moderate
Answers 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 1 across the 9 items. Find the total and band.
- Score each item 0 to 3: 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 1.
- Add: 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 12.
- 12 sits in 10 to 14, so the band is Moderate.
- At 10 or more, clinical attention is due.
- Item 9 thoughts of harm always need same day review.
- Repeat in 2 weeks to track change.
Reference table
| Total | Band | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | None to minimal | Routine monitoring |
| 5 to 9 | Mild | Watchful waiting, repeat |
| 10 to 14 (worked: 12) | Moderate | Consider counseling or medication |
| 15 to 19 | Moderately severe | Active treatment |
| 20 to 27 | Severe | Active treatment, prompt follow up |
Limits
- Screening aid, not a diagnosis.
- Misses context: grief, illness, burnout overlap.
- Self report bends with insight and honesty.
- Item 9 needs human review, not math.
Common mistakes
- Skipping items and prorating casually.
- Treating 9 as safe without reading item 9.
- Testing once and never repeating.
- Confusing severity with diagnosis.
- Ignoring medical causes of high scores.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
All answers not at all?
Nine 0s total 0: None to minimal, routine monitoring only.
All answers nearly every day?
Nine 3s total 27: Severe, active treatment with prompt follow up.
All answers several days?
Nine 1s total 9: Mild, watchful waiting with repeat at follow up.
Questions
Is PHQ-9 a diagnosis?
A self rated 9 item screen for depressive symptoms over 2 weeks. It grades severity; diagnosis needs a clinician interview.
What if item 9 is positive?
Any positive answer deserves same day clinical review and a safety plan. The total still matters, but item 9 jumps the queue.
Which cutoffs matter most?
5, 10, 15, and 20 mark mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe. Scores of 10 or more merit attention.
What do flat answers give?
Nine 1s total 9, Mild. Nine 0s total 0. Nine 3s total 27, Severe. The page spans the full range.
How often should I repeat it?
Yes, every 2 weeks during treatment. A 5 point drop counts as meaningful response in many clinics.
Does a high score always mean depression?
No. Sleep, appetite, and energy items also rise with medical illness, grief, and burnout. Context decides meaning.