About This Depression Test
This free depression test is the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), the standard depression screening instrument used in primary care and psychiatry throughout the United States. Each of its nine questions maps to one of the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, and your total score (0–27) indicates symptom severity. It takes about two minutes and is scored instantly in your browser — your answers are never stored or sent anywhere.
A screening score is information, not a diagnosis. Grief, thyroid problems, anemia, sleep disorders, and medication side effects can all mimic depression, which is why a high score should be followed by a full evaluation with a licensed clinician — something you can do from home through telehealth psychiatry.
Understanding PHQ-9 Scores
Scores of 0–4 indicate minimal symptoms, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, and 20–27 severe. Ten or above is the common threshold where clinicians recommend a professional evaluation and active treatment. The final question asks about thoughts of self-harm — if you answered anything other than 'not at all' to that question, please reach out for support now: call or text 988 to reach the free, 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Depression is more than sadness. It commonly shows up as losing interest in things you used to enjoy, exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix, sleeping too little or too much, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, irritability, physical slowness or restlessness, and persistent guilt or feelings of worthlessness. Symptoms that last most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more are the clinical signature of a major depressive episode.
Depression frequently travels with anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and chronic pain. Treating the full picture — not just the low mood — is why a thorough psychiatric evaluation matters. Learn more about depression treatment online.
What Happens After the Test
If your score is 10 or higher, the recommended next step is an evaluation with a licensed psychiatric provider. At Anywhere Clinic, that's a private video visit where your provider reviews your symptoms, history, sleep, and any medical factors, then builds a treatment plan with you. Depending on your situation, that plan may include therapy, lifestyle changes, medication such as SSRIs or SNRIs when clinically appropriate, or a combination — with follow-up visits to track your PHQ-9 score as you improve.
Struggling with focus and restlessness too? Attention problems and depression often overlap — you can also take our free ADHD test.
