PHQ-A: Teen Depression Self-Check
Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents
About This Screener
The Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) is designed specifically for teens to reflect on symptoms of depression. This tool can help you and your family understand if you might benefit from speaking with a mental health professional.
Instructions
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, homework, or watching TV
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 schoolwork, activities, or get along with family and friends?
Attribution & Disclaimer
The PHQ-A is the adolescent version of the PHQ-9, specifically adapted for teens ages 12-18. It follows the same scoring and interpretation guidelines as the adult version but uses language more appropriate for adolescents.
Z Psychology did not create or modify this screener. We are offering it here to support awareness and self-reflection for teens and their families.
This tool is for informational purposes only and does not provide a diagnosis. If you have concerns about your mental health, please talk to a trusted adult or mental health professional.