A Simple Quiz to Help Diagnose Depression

If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression, doing a quick self-evaluation may be helpful.

Only a licensed clinician can make an official diagnosis. But depression tests like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) offer a more objective measure of your condition. And they give you results you can share with your doctor.

Using the PHQ-9 is simple. Just go through and answer each multiple-choice question based on your own perception. You’ll then total up the numbers to get your score. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you’re suffering from depression (and the more severe your depression may be).

Online Patient Health Questionnaire

This tool is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation and cannot give an official diagnosis. We offer this as a free resource to help give insight into your situation. If you are struggling with symptoms of depression or other mental health challenges, you should speak to a mental health professional.

Your information is confidential. We do not collect or store your answers. And we do not require you to submit any identifying information to see your results.

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

4. Feeling tired or having little energy *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

5. Poor appetite or overeating *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

6. Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself *

0 – Not at all

1 – Several days

2 – More than half the days

3 – Nearly every day

10. If you checked off any problems, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

This question is optional, but it can offer insight into how these problems are impacting your life.

Not difficult at all

Somewhat difficult

Very difficult

Extremely difficult

Please answer all required questions to see your results.

The original PHQ-9 evaluation was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.

A Simple Quiz to Help Diagnose Depression

Online Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

Online Patient Health Questionnaire

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

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