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PHQ-9 depression screening

The original PHQ-9 questionnaire, used worldwide to screen for depression, so you can compare the past two weeks against its published scoring bands.

3-5 minutes9 questions

Answer based on the past two weeks, including days that felt fine. The PHQ-9 is a short, widely used screening questionnaire with nine items. There is no right or wrong answer, only the option closest to how often each one actually applied to you, not how you think it should have.

Mood, interest and sleepEnergy, appetite and self-viewConcentration, movement and safety

The PHQ-9 is a validated screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A diagnosis needs a clinical conversation that also weighs physical illness, recent loss, past manic episodes and alcohol or drug use. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or cannot keep yourself safe, do not stay alone. Tell someone you trust and get help immediately.

Think in two-week blocks

Anchoring every answer to the same fixed window keeps one unusually hard day, or one unusually good one, from tilting the whole result.

What the PHQ-9 covers

Nine items ask about interest, mood, sleep, energy, appetite, self-view, concentration, movement and thoughts of self-harm, each scored by how often it occurred.

A screening result, not a verdict

The total only summarizes your answers right now. It does not confirm depression by itself and does not replace an assessment by a doctor.

Nine items, one time frame

Each of the nine items is scored from not at all to nearly every day, all covering the same two-week window. Adding the nine scores gives a total from 0 to 27, compared against the published cutoffs below. No single item decides the outcome; the pattern across all nine items matters more than any one answer on its own.

A tenth item is left out on purpose

The full PHQ-9 also includes a tenth, unscored question about how difficult these problems have made work, home life or getting along with others. This tool does not score that item, but it is worth asking yourself once you finish, since it often clarifies how much weight these two weeks have actually carried day to day.

Bringing this to a clinic in Thailand

If the result unsettles you, note which items scored highest and for how long, plus any recent sleep changes, substance use, major life events or family history of depression. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other cities with international hospitals and clinics can use this screening result as a starting point for a fuller assessment, provided you confirm English-language service before booking, since not every clinic offers it.

Before you start

Does a high PHQ-9 score mean I have depression?

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high score is a reasonable reason to see a doctor or mental health professional, who will rule out physical causes, grief, substance use and other conditions before reaching any conclusion.

How often should I retake this?

Some clinics reuse the PHQ-9 every few weeks to track change during treatment. You can do the same, but do not lean on repeat testing alone if your day-to-day functioning is already affected. A conversation with a clinician is the better next step at that point.

Can this tell depression apart from other causes?

No. Fatigue, poor sleep or appetite changes can also come from physical illness, medication side effects, recent loss or another mental health condition. A clinician needs to weigh these possibilities before attributing symptoms to depression specifically.