Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for Depression Questions and Score Calculator
Copy templates to use them anywhere:
Use this snippet (also known as a dot phrase template) to screen for depression using the standardized PHQ-9 questionnaire and scoring model.
Text Blaze snippets can be used in virtually any EMR and make adding notes to patient charts quick and consistent.
Get the Assessment
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q2}
Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q3}
Feeling tired or having little energy? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q4}
Poor appetite or overeating? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q5}
Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q6}
Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q7}
Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or so fidgety or restless that you have been moving a lot more than usual? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q8}
Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or thoughts of hurting yourself in some way? {formmenu: Not at all; Several days; More than half the days; Nearly every day; name=q9}
{=score} points
{if: score<5}Scores ≤4 suggest minimal depression which may not require treatment.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.{elseif: score<10}Scores 5-9 suggest mild depression which may require only watchful waiting and repeated PHQ-9 at followup.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.{elseif: score<15}Scores 10-14 suggest moderate depression severity; patients should have a treatment plan ranging form counseling, followup, and/or pharmacotherapy.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.{elseif: score=15}Scores 15-19 suggest moderately severe depression; patients typically should have immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.{elseif: score<20}Scores 15-19 suggest moderately severe depression; patients typically should have immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.
WARNING: This patient is having thoughts concerning for suicidal ideation or self-harm, and should be probed further, referred, or transferred for emergency psychiatric evaluation as clinically appropriate and depending on clinician overall risk assessment.{elseif: score>19}Scores 20 and greater suggest severe depression; patients typically should have immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy and expedited referral to mental health specialist.
Functionally, the patient does not report limitations due to their symptoms.
WARNING: This patient is having thoughts concerning for suicidal ideation or self-harm, and should be probed further, referred, or transferred for emergency psychiatric evaluation as clinically appropriate and depending on clinician overall risk assessment.{endif}{note: preview=no}
Score Calculation {answerlist=[q1, q2, q3, q4, q5, q6, q7, q8, q9]}{several=count(filter(answerlist, x -> x="Several days"))}{more=count(filter(answerlist, x -> x="More than half the days"))*2}{nearly=count(filter(answerlist, x -> x="Nearly every day"))*3}{score=several+more+nearly}{endnote}
About the PHQ-9
The 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a diagnostic tool introduced in 2001 to screen adult patients in a primary care setting for the presence and severity of depression. It rates depression based on the self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ).
The PHQ-9 takes less than 3 minutes to complete and simply scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria for depression based on the mood module from the original PRIME-MD. Primary care providers frequently use the PHQ-9 to screen for depression in patients.
Notes
This is a demonstration of Text Blaze's power to perform complex calculations for medical professionals automatically. The creator of this Text Blaze calculator is not a doctor. Calculations should be validated by a professional.
This snippet is a recreation of the original calculator by Dr. Kurt Kroenke available on mdcalc.com.