PHQ-9: Depression Self-Check
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used, research-based screening tool designed to help people reflect on symptoms of depression. It can help identify whether you might benefit from speaking with a mental health professional.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
Select the option that best applies to each question.
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, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite — 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
10. If you checked off any problems above, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
Important Information
About This Tool: The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues, and is made publicly available by Pfizer Inc. It is widely used in both clinical and research settings.
Disclaimer: This tool is a self-check questionnaire provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool. Z Psychology did not create or modify this screener.
When to Seek Help: If your score is in the moderate to severe range — or if you selected any level of agreement with question 9 (thoughts of self-harm) — we strongly encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health provider.