Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Duration: 5 minQuestion 1 of 9
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Little interest or pleasure in doing things
FAQs
What is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)?
The PHQ-9 is a brief, self-administered depression screening and severity measure that is one of the most validated tools in mental health.
Who developed the PHQ-9 and when?
Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, and Janet B.W. Williams in 1999.
What type of assessment is the PHQ-9?
It is a self-report questionnaire that can also be administered by healthcare providers.
What symptoms does the PHQ-9 assess?
- Depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest)
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue and energy problems
- Appetite changes
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Concentration difficulties
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Suicidal ideation
How many items and what format?
9 items corresponding to DSM-IV depression criteria, rated on a 4-point scale (0-3).
How is the PHQ-9 scored?
Total score ranges from 0-27. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity.
Who can use the PHQ-9?
Adults in primary care, specialty care, and community settings.
What are the strengths of the PHQ-9?
Excellent reliability and validity, widely used in clinical practice, includes suicidal ideation screening.
What are the limitations of the PHQ-9?
May not capture all aspects of depression, cultural considerations needed for diverse populations.