Depression Test: Get an Instant Severity Result Based on the PHQ-9
This self-assessment is built on the PHQ-9, the most widely validated depression screening used in clinics. Get an instant severity result in a few minutes and an optional report for a therapist.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Depression Test is a free, confidential 9-question self-assessment, based on the validated PHQ-9. It takes about 6 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 5 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
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, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–27 in total. Your result falls into one of 5 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal symptoms | Your answers point to minimal depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. That is a reassuring result on this measure. |
| 5–9 | Mild symptoms | Your answers point to mild depressive symptoms. Many people live here, and there is a lot you can do. |
| 10–14 | Moderate symptoms | Your answers point to moderate depression. This is the range where a conversation with a professional is genuinely worth it. |
| 15–19 | Moderately severe symptoms | Your answers point to moderately severe depression. Please consider reaching out for support soon. |
| 20–27 | Severe symptoms | Your answers point to severe depression. Please be gentle with yourself, and reach out for support soon. |
How common is this?
Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our depression statistics page collects the current numbers on depression in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory.
How accurate is the PHQ-9 at detecting depression
In the largest study of its kind, a 2019 individual participant data meta-analysis pooled results from 58 studies and more than 17,000 participants and compared the PHQ-9 against semistructured diagnostic interviews, the reference standard clinicians use to confirm major depression. At the standard cutoff of 10, the PHQ-9 correctly identified depression in about 88% of people who had it (sensitivity 0.88) and correctly ruled it out in about 85% of people who did not (specificity 0.85). That balance is why a cutoff of 10 is the threshold this test and most primary care clinics use.
No self-report questionnaire is perfect. A score of 10 or higher means depression is likely, not certain, and a lower score does not rule it out if your symptoms genuinely fit the picture described above. That is the gap an actual conversation with a clinician is meant to close, not something a nine-item questionnaire can replace on its own.
Depression Test vs the DASS-21
If your low mood shows up tangled together with anxiety or a general sense of being stretched too thin, the DASS-21 Depression, Anxiety & Stress Test screens all three at once and can help you see which one is driving the others. The PHQ-9 used here stays narrowly focused on the nine core depression symptoms, which makes it the better pick when you specifically want a severity read on depression rather than a broader mood picture. The Anxiety Test is worth taking alongside this one if anxious thoughts or physical tension show up often, since depression and anxiety commonly occur together and each carries its own treatment considerations.
Whichever screening fits, the Behavioral Activation Planner, built around a core piece of cognitive behavioral therapy that means deliberately scheduling activities that used to bring some enjoyment or a sense of accomplishment, is one of the more evidence-backed ways to start moving a low mood even before you see anyone. When you are ready for that conversation, the Psychology.com therapist directory lets you search for clinicians who work with depression, free and with no account needed.
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.
References
- 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.
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 15). Depression Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/depression
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 there a separate high-functioning depression test?
No separate scale exists, and "high-functioning depression" is not a clinical term. It usually describes persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) or a depression someone keeps hidden while holding a job and relationships together. The PHQ-9 still captures it, because it asks about mood, energy, sleep, concentration, and self-worth rather than how well you appear to cope. If your score lands in the mild-to-moderate range and has felt that way for two years or more, that pattern is worth naming to a clinician.
What about smiling depression?
"Smiling depression" is a popular phrase for depression masked behind a cheerful, capable exterior. It carries real risk precisely because the people around you may not notice. This test is a private place to answer honestly, without the smile. If your score is moderate or higher, or if question 9 about self-harm was anything other than "not at all", please take that seriously and reach out to a professional or, in the US, call or text 988.
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.
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