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PHQ-9 Depression Assessment — Am I Depressed?
Depression Test (PHQ-9 Assessment)
This free depression test uses the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) — the most widely used and clinically validated depression screening tool in the world. The PHQ-9 was developed by Dr Robert Spitzer and colleagues as part of the PRIME-MD initiative and has been validated across thousands of research studies and clinical settings internationally. It assesses all nine DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, producing a severity score that guides clinical decision-making. Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists use it daily as a first-line screening tool and to monitor treatment response.
Mood Symptoms
Persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest
Physical Symptoms
Fatigue, sleep disruption, and appetite changes
Cognitive Symptoms
Concentration problems and feelings of worthlessness
Instant Results
PHQ-9 severity score with clear guidance on next steps
✓ PHQ-9 — the gold standard for clinical depression screening
✓ 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression
✓ Used by doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists worldwide
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Frequently Asked Questions — Depression Test & Depression
What is the PHQ-9 depression test?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a nine-item self-report screening tool that assesses the nine criteria for Major Depressive Disorder as defined in the DSM-5. It was developed and validated by Kroenke, Spitzer, and colleagues and is the most widely used depression screening instrument in primary care and mental health settings worldwide. The tool produces a severity score (0-27) that corresponds to five clinical severity categories: minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19), and severe (20-27). It is used both for initial screening and for monitoring treatment response over time.
Am I depressed? How can I tell the difference between depression and sadness?
Normal sadness is a proportionate emotional response to a difficult event or situation — it comes and goes, it does not prevent you from functioning, and it improves as circumstances change or time passes. Clinical depression is qualitatively different: it persists for two weeks or more regardless of external circumstances, involves a broader cluster of symptoms beyond low mood (fatigue, sleep changes, appetite changes, cognitive impairment, anhedonia), significantly impairs daily functioning, and does not resolve reliably without treatment. The most distinctive marker of depression is anhedonia — the loss of the capacity to feel pleasure even in circumstances that would normally be enjoyable. If you have lost the ability to feel positive emotions rather than simply experiencing negative ones more intensely, that is a more reliable indicator of depression than sadness alone.
What types of depression exist and how are they different?
The major depression types are: Major Depressive Disorder (discrete episodes of significant depression, typically lasting months), Persistent Depressive Disorder (chronic low-grade depression lasting two or more years), Postpartum Depression (depression following childbirth, involving the full MDD symptom picture), Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression following a seasonal pattern, typically worsening in winter and remitting in spring), and Treatment-Resistant Depression (depression that has not responded adequately to two or more appropriate trials of antidepressants). High-functioning depression is not a formal diagnosis but describes people who maintain outward functioning while experiencing significant internal depression. This test screens for depression broadly — it does not distinguish between subtypes, which requires clinical assessment.
Can depression affect physical health?
Yes, significantly. Depression has well-documented effects on physical health through multiple mechanisms. Elevated cortisol in depression suppresses immune function and increases cardiovascular risk. Depression is associated with elevated rates of heart disease, diabetes, and chronic pain. People with depression have significantly higher rates of inflammatory markers. Depression also affects health behaviours — reducing exercise, disrupting sleep, impairing appetite regulation, and increasing the risk of substance use — all of which have downstream physical effects. The relationship is bidirectional: chronic physical illness also significantly increases depression risk. This means treating depression effectively is not just a mental health priority — it is a physical health priority.
How does antidepressant medication work?
Most commonly used antidepressants — SSRIs and SNRIs — primarily work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin (and in SNRIs, norepinephrine) into neurons, increasing the availability of these neurotransmitters in synapses. However, the therapeutic effect of antidepressants is not simply explained by this immediate pharmacological action — serotonin availability increases within hours, but the antidepressant effect typically takes 4-6 weeks to become apparent. Current research suggests the therapeutic mechanism involves downstream neuroplasticity changes: antidepressants increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and restore prefrontal cortex connectivity. This explains the delayed onset and also why sustained treatment produces better outcomes than brief courses.
Is this depression test accurate?
The PHQ-9 on which this test is based has 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression at a threshold score of 10 — meaning it correctly identifies approximately 88% of people with major depression and correctly identifies approximately 88% of people without depression. These are strong numbers for a brief self-report screening tool. However, sensitivity and specificity are not the same as accuracy in an absolute sense — a positive screen means your symptoms warrant professional evaluation, not that you definitively have depression. A negative screen (low score) does not definitively rule out depression, particularly in people who underreport symptoms. This test is a reliable starting point, not a replacement for clinical assessment.
How long does depression last without treatment?
Without treatment, a major depressive episode typically lasts 6-9 months on average, though significant variation exists — some episodes last only a few months, others persist for a year or more. Persistent Depressive Disorder, by definition, lasts two years or more. Recurrence is common: after one episode of major depression, approximately 50% of people experience a second episode; after two episodes, 70% experience a third; after three episodes, 90% experience further episodes. Each episode also increases the risk of subsequent episodes, suggesting a kindling effect. This is a strong argument for treating depression early and thoroughly rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.
Does exercise really help depression?
Yes — the evidence is stronger than most people expect. Multiple meta-analyses have found exercise effects on depression comparable to antidepressant medication for mild to moderate depression. The most robust evidence is for aerobic exercise of moderate intensity (equivalent to brisk walking or cycling at a pace where you can still hold a conversation, but with some effort), performed for 30-45 minutes, three to five times per week. The mechanism involves BDNF increase, HPA axis regulation, monoamine effects, reduced neuroinflammation, and the behavioural activation component of engaging in a structured activity. However, depression's core symptoms — fatigue, anhedonia, hopelessness, and reduced motivation — make initiating exercise extremely difficult. This is why professional support, even for the lifestyle component of depression treatment, is often necessary.
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