Depression screening with the PHQ-9 questionnaire

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used and validated screening tools for depression in both primary care and research settings. Developed by Drs. Robert Spitzer, Janet Williams, and Kurt Kroenke, it consists of nine questions that map directly to the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the DSM-5. Each question asks how often you have been bothered by a specific symptom — such as low mood, loss of interest, sleep problems, fatigue, or thoughts of self-harm — over the past two weeks, rated on a four-point scale from "not at all" to "nearly every day."

The total score ranges from 0 to 27 and is typically interpreted in four bands: minimal or no depression (0–4), mild depression (5–9), moderate depression (10–14), moderately severe depression (15–19), and severe depression (20–27). The ninth question, which asks about thoughts of death or self-harm, is also reviewed independently as a critical safety indicator — any response other than "not at all" warrants further clinical attention regardless of the total score.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting an estimated 280 million people according to the World Health Organization. Yet it frequently goes unrecognized — many people experience symptoms for months or years before seeking help. A brief, standardized screening questionnaire can help identify whether the symptoms you are experiencing are consistent with clinical depression and whether a conversation with a healthcare professional is warranted. Screening is not a diagnosis; it is a first step that can guide you toward appropriate care.

Regular screening is especially valuable for monitoring changes over time. Retaking the PHQ-9 at intervals — for example every few weeks or months — helps you and your doctor track whether symptoms are improving, stable, or worsening, and whether treatment or lifestyle changes are having an effect. This is why AssessMe stores each result and visualizes score trends across repeated assessments.

AssessMe offers the PHQ-9 as part of its adaptive screening flow. When you complete the main assessment, your PHQ-9 score is calculated instantly and classified as normal, threshold, or clear indication. If your score reaches a threshold, the platform automatically recommends relevant in-depth tests — such as the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) — mirroring the stepwise logic of a clinical work-up. You receive a plain-language interpretation of your score and a concrete recommendation for follow-up.

All results are stored privately under your account, protected by row-level security so that only you can access them. You can export a structured PDF report to bring to your doctor, and generate an AI-powered clinical summary that synthesizes all your screening results into main findings and recommended next steps — designed as a starting point for the conversation with your healthcare provider.