PHQ-9 Depression Score Calculator

PHQ-9 Depression Score

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a self-report screening tool with 9 items, validated by Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams (2001). For each item you rate how often a depressive symptom showed up in the last 2 weeks, from 0 (not at all) up to 3 (nearly every day). Add the nine answers and you land somewhere on a 0–27 scale.

The usual severity bands run like this: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, then 20–27 severe. One caveat that overrides the total: item 9 (suicidal ideation) calls for immediate clinical attention no matter what the sum comes to. And the tool does not stand in for an evaluation by a licensed mental health professional.

Applications

You'll find it across Brazilian primary care (UBS), CAPS (Centro de Atencao Psicossocial), occupational health programs and research alike. The WHO mhGAP guidelines recommend it, and it's built into the Brazilian Caderno de Atencao Basica n. 34 (Saude Mental).

FAQ

Can I self-diagnose with PHQ-9? No. Read the score as a screening flag, not a verdict. Confirming major depressive disorder is a clinician's call, made against DSM-5 / CID-11 criteria.

What if item 9 (suicidal thoughts) is > 0? Get help right away. Call CVV 188 (free, 24h in Brazil) or head to the nearest emergency service. Any answer above zero here means you need an urgent professional assessment.

Is the PHQ-9 validated in Portuguese? Yes. Santos et al. (2013) validated the Brazilian Portuguese version, and it's free to use in both clinical and research settings.