The PHQ-9, explained in plain language
What the PHQ-9 actually asks, how the score works, what each level tends to mean — and how to use it without over-reading it.
What is the PHQ-9?
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used screening questionnaires for low mood. It was developed by researchers including Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B. W. Williams and Kurt Kroenke, and is used every day in clinics around the world as a quick, structured way to check in on how someone has been feeling over the past two weeks.
It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. It asks how often you've experienced nine common symptoms — and the pattern of answers gives a useful snapshot that can start a conversation with a professional.
The nine questions
Over the past two weeks, how often have you been bothered by each of these?
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
- Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
- Feeling tired or having little energy
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Feeling bad about yourself — or that you're a failure or have let yourself or your family down
- Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading or watching television
- Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed — or the opposite, being so fidgety or restless that you've been moving around a lot more than usual
- Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way
One honest note: the ninth question is about self-harm. If that one resonates, that matters regardless of your total score — see the crisis section below.
How the scoring works
Each question is scored 0 to 3: not at all (0), several days (1), more than half the days (2), and nearly every day (3). Adding the nine answers gives a total from 0 to 27.
| Total score | Severity level | Typical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal | Little sign of low-mood symptoms; a normal range for many people. |
| 5–9 | Mild | Some symptoms; worth keeping an eye on, especially if they linger. |
| 10–14 | Moderate | Worth taking seriously — a good moment to talk to a professional. |
| 15–19 | Moderately severe | Suggests a meaningful burden; professional support is recommended. |
| 20–27 | Severe | High level of symptoms; reaching out to a professional soon is advised. |
MoodCheck adds a tenth, non-scored question — how much these feelings get in the way of daily life — because impact matters as much as intensity.
What the levels mean — and don't mean
A higher total suggests more symptoms, and the severity bands are the way the questionnaire is commonly interpreted. But a score is a snapshot of the past two weeks, not a verdict and not a diagnosis. Many people with low scores still find it valuable to talk to someone; some people with high scores feel fine on a good day.
What to do with your results
- If the pattern matches how you've been feeling, bring it to a doctor, therapist, or someone you trust — it gives you both a clear starting point.
- If the score is moderate or higher, reaching out to a qualified professional is a genuinely good next step.
- Retake the questionnaire in a couple of weeks — trends over time are often more telling than a single number.
If you're thinking about self-harm
Please don't sit with this alone — there are people trained to help, free and right now:
- US: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- UK & Ireland: call 116 123 (Samaritans)
- Mainland China: call 12356 (national mental health hotline, free, 24h)
- Everywhere else: findahelpline.com lists free local helplines in 130+ countries.
Common questions
No. A high score suggests more symptoms, but only a qualified professional can diagnose. Treat the score as a prompt to start a conversation — not as an answer on its own.
The tenth question asks how much these feelings get in the way of work, family, or time with people. It isn't scored, but it captures impact — which professionals consider alongside intensity.
Completely. This guide has no forms, and MoodCheck's self-test runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is ever uploaded.
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