Depression Severity Assessment Calculator
Score the full PHQ-9 depression questionnaire: nine symptoms over the last 2 weeks, each rated 0–3, for a total of 0–27 with the official severity cut-offs (5, 10, 15, 20). A screening aid to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Last updated: September 2026
PHQ-9 Total Score
0 points (0-27)
Formula below · 4 sources (nimh.nih.gov, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, apa.org, Wikipedia) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
This calculator scores the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001), the most widely used depression screener in primary care. It asks how often, over the last 2 weeks, you have been bothered by each of the nine DSM symptoms of major depression: (1) little interest or pleasure in doing things; (2) feeling down, depressed, or hopeless; (3) trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much; (4) feeling tired or having little energy; (5) poor appetite or overeating; (6) feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down; (7) trouble concentrating on things; (8) moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, or being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual; (9) thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way. Each answer scores 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days) or 3 (nearly every day), and the total is the simple sum, 0–27. Official severity bands: 0–4 none to minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. In the validation study a total of 10 or more had 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression, and 10 is the usual threshold for a clinical assessment. Any answer other than "Not at all" on item 9 needs prompt attention whatever the total: talk to a clinician soon, and if you might act on these thoughts, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) or call 911 now. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool; a diagnosis needs a clinical interview.
How to use
Answer each of the nine questions for the last 2 weeks. Example: interest = 2, feeling down = 2, sleep = 1, tired = 3, appetite = 1, feeling bad about yourself = 1, concentration = 1, moving slowly or restless = 0, thoughts of self-harm = 0. Total = 2 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 = 11, in the moderate band (10–14). Because it is 10 or more, book an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional to discuss it. All "Not at all" gives 0; all "Nearly every day" gives the maximum of 27. Repeating the PHQ-9 every 2–4 weeks tracks change; a drop of 5 points or more is generally treated as a clinically meaningful improvement. If you answered anything other than "Not at all" to the last question, please talk to someone now — call or text 988 in the US.
Frequently asked questions
What do the PHQ depression score ranges mean in practice?
The PHQ-9 total runs from 0 to 27. A score of 0–4 suggests minimal or no depressive symptoms and typically requires no action beyond continued self-monitoring. Scores of 5–9 indicate mild depression — watchful waiting and repeating the questionnaire at follow-up are usually recommended. Scores of 10–14 represent moderate depression, where a clinician will commonly discuss counseling, follow-up and sometimes medication. 15–19 is moderately severe and 20–27 severe, where active treatment is recommended. These are the validated PHQ-9 cut-offs (Kroenke et al. 2001) and should be reviewed in context by a healthcare provider.
Why does this calculator ask all nine PHQ-9 questions?
The PHQ-9 cut-offs of 5, 10, 15 and 20 were validated for the full nine-item total, so a shortened set of questions cannot be scored against them. The nine items cover all nine DSM-5 criteria for a major depressive episode, including psychomotor changes, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of self-harm. The last item matters on its own: any answer other than "Not at all" should be discussed with a clinician promptly, whatever the total, and if you might act on such thoughts, call or text 988 (US) or 911.
How often should I use this depression severity calculator to track my symptoms?
For personal tracking, weekly assessments provide enough data to detect meaningful trends without creating excessive health rumination. Most clinical trials and therapy protocols use weekly PHQ measures to gauge treatment response — typically looking for a 5-point or 50% reduction in score as a meaningful improvement threshold. Daily scoring can be useful during acute episodes or medication adjustment phases but should be done with professional guidance to avoid over-interpreting normal day-to-day fluctuations. Keep a simple log of date and score to share with your doctor or therapist; a consistent downward trend over 4–8 weeks is a positive treatment signal.