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PHQ-9 depression screening

The original PHQ-9 questionnaire, used worldwide to screen for depression, so you can see how the past two weeks compare against its published scoring bands.

3-5 minutes9 questions

Answer based on the past two weeks, including days when things felt manageable. The PHQ-9 is a widely used screening questionnaire with nine short items. There are no right or wrong answers, only the option closest to how often each has actually applied to you.

Mood, interest and sleepEnergy, appetite and self-viewConcentration, movement and safety

The PHQ-9 is a validated screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A diagnosis needs a clinical conversation that also considers physical illness, recent loss, past manic episodes and alcohol or drug use. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or cannot keep yourself safe, do not stay alone. Tell someone you trust, and if you cannot stay safe get to the nearest emergency department or call 115.

Think in two-week blocks

Anchoring your answers to a fixed window keeps one unusually hard day or one unusually good day from skewing the whole picture.

What the PHQ-9 covers

Nine items ask about interest, mood, sleep, energy, appetite, self-view, concentration, movement and thoughts of self-harm, each scored by how often it occurred.

A screening result, not a verdict

The total only summarizes your answers right now. It does not confirm depression on its own and does not replace an assessment by a clinician.

Nine items, one time frame

Each of the nine items is scored from not at all to nearly every day, covering the same two-week window. Adding the nine scores gives a total from 0 to 27, which is compared against the published cutoffs below. No single item decides the result on its own; the pattern across all nine matters more than any one answer.

A tenth item is intentionally left out

The full PHQ-9 also includes a tenth, unscored question about how difficult these problems have made work, home life or getting along with other people. This tool does not score that item, but it is worth asking yourself once you finish, since it often clarifies how much day-to-day weight these two weeks have actually carried.

Bringing this to a clinician in Vietnam

If the result leaves you unsettled, note which specific items scored highest and for how long, along with any recent sleep changes, substance use, major life events or family history of depression. International clinics and hospital psychiatry departments across Vietnam's larger cities can take this screening result as a starting point for a fuller assessment, not a replacement for one.

Before you start

Does a high PHQ-9 score mean I have depression?

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high score is a reasonable reason to see a doctor or mental health professional, who will assess ruling out physical causes, grief, substance use and other conditions before reaching any conclusion.

How often should I retake this?

Some clinics reuse the PHQ-9 every few weeks to track change during treatment. You can do the same, but do not rely on repeat testing alone if your day-to-day functioning is already affected. A conversation with a clinician is the better next step at that point.

Can this tell depression apart from other causes?

No. Fatigue, poor sleep or appetite changes can also come from physical illness, medication side effects, recent loss or another mental health condition. A clinician needs to weigh these possibilities before attributing symptoms to depression specifically.