Think back over the past two weeks.
The more honest your answers, the more useful the result.
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a 9-item self-report scale published in 2001 by Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams. It was designed to screen for depressive symptoms quickly in primary care and is now one of the most widely used depression screening tools in clinics and research worldwide. The nine items each cover a core symptom of depression: loss of interest, low mood, sleep changes, fatigue, appetite changes, self-blame, trouble concentrating, slowed movement or restlessness, and thoughts of death.
Mood naturally rises and falls from day to day, so the test does not ask about a single day. It asks how often you have felt each way over the past two weeks. A recent major event or physical illness can also be reflected in your answers.
Your result is not a diagnosis; it is a reference for looking back on how you are doing right now. Physical factors such as thyroid problems, anemia or medication can produce similar symptoms. Whatever your score, if a difficult state lasts more than two weeks or makes daily life hard, please talk to a psychiatrist or a licensed counselor.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x
✍️ Written by the CosmoTest team · Last reviewed: 2026-10-20 · This self-check content has not been clinically reviewed by a psychiatrist.