Sometimes it is hard to know: is what you feel passing sadness, or depression that needs treatment? This short test helps you put what you are going through into numbers, so you can decide on your next step clearly.
Start the depression test
How is the score calculated?
Each answer has a score: “Not at all” = 0, “Several days” = 1, “More than half the days” = 2, and “Nearly every day” = 3. The scores of the nine questions are added up to give a number from 0 to 27, which is read as follows:
| Level | Symptom level | Suggested step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | No significant symptoms | No treatment needed; retake the test if your condition changes |
| 5 – 9 | Mild | Self-monitoring and retaking the test after two weeks |
| 10 – 14 | Moderate | Psychological assessment, and often psychotherapy |
| 15 – 19 | Moderate to severe | See a psychiatrist soon for a treatment plan |
| 20 – 27 | Severe | See a psychiatrist as soon as possible |
What to do after your result
Your sleep, activity, and relationships are your first line of defense. Retake the test if your condition changes.
Regulate your sleep, move every day, stay in touch with people, and retake the test after two weeks.
This score often benefits from psychotherapy, and an assessment will determine whether you need medication.
Symptoms are clearly affecting your life, and early treatment shortens recovery time.
Severe depression that needs a psychiatrist as soon as possible, with close follow-up.
What is the PHQ-9?
PHQ-9 stands for “Patient Health Questionnaire-9.” It was developed by American physicians and published in 2001, and its nine questions correspond to the nine diagnostic criteria for major depression in the diagnostic manual. In the original validation study, a score of 10 or higher identified about 88% of cases of major depression, with similar accuracy in ruling out people without it. This is why doctors use it for initial screening and for tracking improvement during treatment.
Limits of the test
- It does not diagnose depression; a diagnosis requires an interview with a psychiatrist.
- It cannot tell depression apart from bipolar disorder or from normal grief after a loss.
- Some physical conditions, such as thyroid problems and anemia, cause similar symptoms.
- Drugs, alcohol, and withdrawal from them can raise the score temporarily.
- A low score does not rule out a problem if you are truly struggling.
Depression and addiction
If your score is high and you use alcohol, sedatives, hashish, or painkillers to cope with your feelings, the two problems feed each other. Treating them together works better than treating each one separately, and this is what the treatment program for depression with addiction offers.