Depression Test
A confidential self-assessment built on the PHQ-9, the most widely validated depression screening in clinical use. In a few minutes you get an instant severity result and a plain-language PDF report you can keep or bring to a therapist.
What the PHQ-9 actually captures
The PHQ-9 maps onto the nine core symptoms used to recognize depression, looking at how often each has affected you over the past two weeks.
The nine core symptoms
Nine items cover mood, interest, sleep, energy, appetite, self-worth, concentration, movement, and thoughts of self-harm: the same symptoms clinicians use to recognize depression.
A severity score
Your answers sum to a single 0 to 27 score that maps onto minimal, mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe ranges, using validated clinical cutoffs.
A recent time window
The PHQ-9 asks specifically about the past two weeks, so your result reflects how you have been feeling lately rather than your whole life.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated PHQ-9 questions | Sometimes | Yes, faithful wording |
| Research-based severity bands | Vague labels | Real clinical cutoffs |
| Self-harm item handled with care | Often ignored | Crisis resources surfaced |
| Clinician-reviewed | Rarely | Yes, MD reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces the nine items of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), developed and validated by Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams (2001). Each item is rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day) for symptoms over the past two weeks, giving a total score from 0 to 27. We use the original validated severity cutoffs: 0 to 4 minimal, 5 to 9 mild, 10 to 14 moderate, 15 to 19 moderately severe, and 20 to 27 severe. A score of 10 or higher is the commonly cited threshold for likely major depression. Item wording has been lightly adapted for readability while preserving the meaning of the validated instrument.
The ninth PHQ-9 item asks about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself. Because any positive answer here matters regardless of the total score, this test surfaces crisis resources prominently whenever that item is endorsed. This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. Only a licensed clinician can assess depression, ideally by talking with you about your history and context. If your result concerns you, treat it as a prompt to reach out, not as a label.
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606–613.
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL. The PHQ-9: a new depression diagnostic and severity measure. Psychiatr Ann. 2002;32(9):509–515.
- Levis B, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019;365:l1476.
Depression Test FAQ
What is a PHQ-9 depression test?
The PHQ-9 is a short, validated questionnaire that measures how often you have experienced the nine core symptoms of depression over the past two weeks. It is one of the most widely used depression screenings in primary care and research. It produces a severity score, not a diagnosis.
What is considered a high depression score?
On the PHQ-9, scores of 0 to 4 suggest minimal symptoms, 5 to 9 mild, 10 to 14 moderate, 15 to 19 moderately severe, and 20 to 27 severe. A score of 10 or higher is the usual point at which likely depression is flagged and a fuller evaluation is recommended.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose depression, usually by talking with you about your symptoms, history, and life context. If your results concern you, consider reaching out to a therapist or doctor.
What if I have thoughts of harming myself?
Please take those thoughts seriously and reach out for help now. In the US you can call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. You deserve support, and help is available right away.
Can depression get better?
Yes. Depression is highly treatable. Therapy, certain medications, and lifestyle changes all have strong evidence, and most people who get appropriate care improve meaningfully. Reaching out is often the hardest and most important step.