Depression Assessment PHQ-9free self-assessment

PHQ-910 itemsAbout 2 minutes

This questionnaire is for self-understanding and reference only and cannot be used to make a clinical diagnosis.

About this assessment

The PHQ-9, or Patient Health Questionnaire-9, is a depression screening questionnaire used widely around the world. Its nine items cover common core experiences associated with depression. It was originally designed for use in primary care and is now used by many professionals as well as for self-assessment. A CUHK research team validated a local Chinese version for the Hong Kong population in 2012. Many of us can tell when we have not felt quite like ourselves lately without knowing whether it is something that needs attention. The PHQ-9 cannot diagnose you, but it can help turn a vague sense that something is different into clearer information about how you have been recently.

What does it look at?

The questionnaire looks back over the past two weeks and asks about nine common depression-related experiences, including interest, mood, sleep, energy, appetite, self-evaluation, concentration, changes in movement or speech, and concerns related to personal safety. The score reflects how much these experiences have affected you recently. It does not describe your personality, and depression-related symptoms are not a fixed state.

This assessment may suit you if...

  • You have been experiencing more difficult emotions lately but are not sure what has changed.
  • People close to you have noticed that you seem lower or less motivated, and you have started wondering about it too.
  • You would like to organise your thoughts about how you have been before speaking with a counsellor.

Learn more

How accurate is this assessment?
Using a score of 10 as a reference threshold, research has reported sensitivity and specificity of about 88% for depressive disorders. Screening is not the same as diagnosis, however. A higher score simply suggests that your current state may be worth exploring further.
How is this different from a clinical assessment?
A clinical assessment is carried out by a doctor or clinical psychologist who considers your circumstances, medical history, duration of symptoms, impact on daily life, and other possible explanations. They may also use additional assessment tools or clinical methods. The PHQ-9 can be a useful starting point, but it does not replace a professional assessment.
References

  • Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613.https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x

  • Yu, X., Tam, W. W., Wong, P. T., Lam, T. H., & Stewart, S. M. (2012). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for measuring depressive symptoms among the general population in Hong Kong. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53(1), 95–102.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.11.002

  • Hong Kong study

    Lam, L. C. W., Wong, C. S. M., Wang, M. J., Chan, W. C., Chen, E. Y. H., Ng, R. M. K., Hung, S. F., Cheung, E. F. C., Sham, P. C., Chiu, H. F. K., Lam, M., Chang, W. C., Lee, E. H. M., Chiang, T. P., Lau, J. T. F., van Os, J., Lewis, G., & Bebbington, P. (2015). Prevalence, psychosocial correlates and service utilization of depressive and anxiety disorders in Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS). Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(9), 1379–1388.

  • Hong Kong study

    Wong, W. S., & Fielding, R. (2011). Prevalence of insomnia among Chinese adults in Hong Kong: A population-based study. Journal of Sleep Research, 20(1), 117–126.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2010.00822.x

  • Hong Kong study

    Ni, M. Y., Yao, X. I., Leung, K. S. M., Yau, C., Leung, C. M. C., Lun, P., Flores, F. P., Chang, W. C., Cowling, B. J., & Leung, G. M. (2020). Depression and post-traumatic stress during major social unrest in Hong Kong: A 10-year prospective cohort study. The Lancet, 395(10220), 273–284.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33160-5

  • Hong Kong study

    UBS (2015). Prices and earnings 2015: Do I earn enough for the life I want?. UBS Prices and Earnings report, 2015 edition.

  • Elhai, J. D., Contractor, A. A., Tamburrino, M., Fine, T. H., Prescott, M. R., Shirley, E., Chan, P. K., Slembarski, R., Liberzon, I., Galea, S., & Calabrese, J. R. (2012). The factor structure of major depression symptoms: A test of four competing models using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Psychiatry Research, 199(3), 169–173.

  • de Jonge, P., Mangano, D., & Whooley, M. A. (2007). Differential association of cognitive and somatic depressive symptoms with heart failure in patients with stable coronary heart disease. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(8), 735–739.

  • Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2003). The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a two-item depression screener. Medical Care, 41(11), 1284–1292.

  • Cuijpers, P., Berking, M., Andersson, G., Quigley, L., Kleiboer, A., & Dobson, K. S. (2013). A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult depression, alone and in comparison with other treatments. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 58(7), 376–385.

  • Treadway, M. T., & Zald, D. H. (2011). Reconsidering anhedonia in depression: Lessons from translational neuroscience. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35(3), 537–555.

  • Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., Gortner, E., & Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 295–304.

  • Ekers, D., Webster, L., Van Straten, A., Cuijpers, P., Richards, D., & Gilbody, S. (2014). Behavioural activation for depression: An update of meta-analysis of effectiveness and sub group analysis. PLoS ONE, 9(6), e100100.

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2000). The role of rumination in depressive disorders and mixed anxiety/depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(3), 504–511.

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wisco, B. E., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Rethinking rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(5), 400–424.

  • Baglioni, C., Battagliese, G., Feige, B., Spiegelhalder, K., Nissen, C., Voderholzer, U., Lombardo, C., & Riemann, D. (2011). Insomnia as a predictor of depression: A meta-analytic evaluation of longitudinal epidemiological studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 135(1–3), 10–19.

  • Cunningham, J. E. A., & Shapiro, C. M. (2018). Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to treat depression: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 106, 1–12.

  • Burns, A. C., Saxena, R., Vetter, C., Phillips, A. J. K., Lane, J. M., & Cain, S. W. (2021). Time spent in outdoor light is associated with mood, sleep, and circadian rhythm-related outcomes: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study in over 400,000 UK Biobank participants. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 347–352.

  • Nierenberg, A. A., Husain, M. M., Trivedi, M. H., Fava, M., Warden, D., Wisniewski, S. R., Miyahara, S., & Rush, A. J. (2010). Residual symptoms after remission of major depressive disorder with citalopram and risk of relapse: A STAR*D report. Psychological Medicine, 40(1), 41–50.

  • Schuch, F. B., Vancampfort, D., Richards, J., Rosenbaum, S., Ward, P. B., & Stubbs, B. (2016). Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis adjusting for publication bias. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 77, 42–51.

  • Simmons, W. K., Burrows, K., Avery, J. A., Kerr, K. L., Bodurka, J., Savage, C. R., & Drevets, W. C. (2016). Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: Dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 173(4), 418–428.

  • MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 545–552.

  • Ferrari, M., Hunt, C., Harrysunker, A., Abbott, M. J., Beath, A. P., & Einstein, D. A. (2019). Self-compassion interventions and psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness, 10(8), 1455–1473.

  • Rock, P. L., Roiser, J. P., Riedel, W. J., & Blackwell, A. D. (2014). Cognitive impairment in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 44(10), 2029–2040.

  • Sobin, C., & Sackeim, H. A. (1997). Psychomotor symptoms of depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154(1), 4–17.

  • Buyukdura, J. S., McClintock, S. M., & Croarkin, P. E. (2011). Psychomotor retardation in depression: Biological underpinnings, measurement, and treatment. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 35(2), 395–409.

A quick tip

There are no right or wrong answers. Choose the response that best reflects how you genuinely feel.

Content reviewed by the Solacare social work team

Last reviewed: 2026-09-13