Skip to main content
    Depression · 8 items · 0–24 · Kroenke K, Strine TW, Spitzer RL, et al. (2009). J Affect Disord.

    Patient Health Questionnaire-8: Scoring, Cutoffs & Interpretation

    Eight-item depression severity measure - the PHQ-9 without the self-harm item.

    PHQ-80 / 8

    Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by…

    Scored locally - nothing leaves this page

    01Little interest or pleasure in doing things.
    02Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless.
    03Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.
    04Feeling tired or having little energy.
    05Poor appetite or overeating.
    06Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down.
    07Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television.
    08Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed; or being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual.
    0 of 80 / 24

    02 - The clinician's brief

    01 - Scoring & cutoffs

    How scoring works.

    Score
    Severity
    Interpretation
    0–4
    None to minimal
    Minimal or no depressive symptoms.
    5–9
    Mild
    Mild depressive symptoms. Watchful waiting; repeat in two to four weeks.
    10–14
    Moderate
    Moderate depression. Consider a treatment plan.
    15–19
    Moderately severe
    Moderately severe depression. Active treatment usually warranted.
    20–24
    Severe
    Severe depression. Initiate treatment and consider referral.

    Related scales

    Instruments clinicians often use alongside this one

    depression

    PHQ-9

    Patient Health Questionnaire-9

    Validated 9-item self-report measure for screening and assessing the severity of depression.

    Open scale

    depression

    PHQ-2

    Patient Health Questionnaire-2

    Two-item ultra-brief screen for depression - the first two questions of the PHQ-9.

    Open scale

    anxiety

    GAD-7

    Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale. Screening tool and severity measure for generalised anxiety.

    Open scale

    Scale without compromise

    See how Aisel removes friction where it costs most. A 20-minute walkthrough tailored to your clinic.