What is calculated
The public PHQ-9 item total and standard descriptive band.
PHQ-9 Depression Screening
PHQ-9 total score
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Reference range
How this result is calculated
A clear calculation path based on your inputs.
Inputs usedReview the information used for this result.
Full calculation and sourcesOpen Full calculation and sources to review the method, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence.
Versioned calculationFormula v1.0.0
Method
Add nine response scores and keep the self-harm item separate.
Important boundary
A questionnaire cannot diagnose depression or assess immediate safety by itself.
Answer for the last two weeksUse the labeled field and matching unit.
Add all nine itemsThe calculator applies the displayed method at full precision.
Prioritize safety when neededKeep the stated boundary beside the result.
Interpretation
The total is a screening score, not a diagnosis.
Item 9 stays visible instead of being buried in the sum.
Urgent safety concerns override ordinary calculator interpretation.
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Method and test recordFormula v1.0.0
- Recorded scope
- health-evidence-completion
- Publisher
- CalculatorGeek
- Recorded review date
- 2026-10-05
- Next source review
- 2027-04-05
- Definition fixtures
- 2 configured scenarios
- Published examples
- 2 shown below
Recorded method
Verify all nine item mappings, total thresholds at 5/10/15/20, and the independent item 9 warning path.
These records describe the published model and reference tests. A test-case count is not a certification of every possible input or an independent specialist review. Editorial policy
Known limitations
- Not a diagnostic interview.
- Does not assess bipolar disorder, substance effects, grief, medical causes, or immediate safety in depth.
- Crisis resources vary by country.
- Response accuracy and language context matter.
Method sources
Latest model update
2026-10-05 - Initial evidence-limited shared-system implementation with fixtures, original support content, and contextual links.
Reference inputs and expected results
Up to 12 examples from the configured definition fixtures are shown. Expected values use the stated output units; invalid inputs are intended to be rejected.
| Case | Inputs | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| moderate score fixture | Little interest or pleasure in doing things: 2; Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless: 2; Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much: 2; Feeling tired or having little energy: 2; Poor appetite or overeating: 1; Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure: 1; Trouble concentrating: 1; Moving or speaking slowly, or being unusually fidgety: 0; Thoughts of being better off dead or self-harm: 0 | PHQ-9 total score: 11 points; Item 9 response score: 0 points; classification: moderate (allowed numeric tolerance: 0.0001) |
| urgent item nine fixture | Little interest or pleasure in doing things: 0; Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless: 0; Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much: 0; Feeling tired or having little energy: 0; Poor appetite or overeating: 0; Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure: 0; Trouble concentrating: 0; Moving or speaking slowly, or being unusually fidgety: 0; Thoughts of being better off dead or self-harm: 1 | PHQ-9 total score: 1 points; Item 9 response score: 1 points; classification: minimal (allowed numeric tolerance: 0.0001) |
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On this page
What the PHQ-9 Depression Screening calculates
Add the nine PHQ-9 responses, show the standard descriptive band, and keep item 9 visibly separate.
The page provides the public screening arithmetic without pretending to conduct a clinical interview.
Start with the Health calculators hub when a neighboring workflow better matches the question.
How to use the PHQ-9 Depression Screening
- Answer every item for the last two weeks.
- Use one response per item.
- Read the total and item 9 together.
- Seek professional or emergency help when the safety wording applies.
Continue with the Sleep Calculator. Plan a schedule without diagnosing sleep problems.
Formula, variables and calculation order
PHQ-9 total = item 1 + ... + item 9, with each response scored 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Inputs are validated and normalized before the calculation. Working precision is retained until display rounding.
For a separate method, open the Sleep Debt Calculator. Describe recent sleep shortfall.
Worked example and boundary check
Worked example
Nine responses totaling 11 fall in the moderate score range, but a nonzero item 9 still requires separate prompt attention.
Boundary check
A total of 9 is mild and 10 is moderate; a nonzero item 9 is never neutralized by a low total.
How to interpret the result
Use the band to support a conversation with a qualified professional, not to self-diagnose or rule out a condition.
- Not a diagnostic interview.
- Does not assess bipolar disorder, substance effects, grief, medical causes, or immediate safety in depth.
- Crisis resources vary by country.
- Response accuracy and language context matter.
Compare the result with the Quit Smoking Calculator. Track a separate behavior-change milestone.
Frequently asked questions
Does a high score prove depression?
No.
Why show item 9 separately?
Safety concerns require attention independent of the total band.
Can a low total rule out a problem?
No.
What period should I answer for?
The last two weeks.
Primary sources and evidence limits
Sources and version-sensitive boundaries were checked 2026-10-05. The page does not replace diagnosis, prescribing, emergency care, or individualized professional judgment.