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Depression screening tools

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 4 minutes

A screening tool is a short questionnaire used by clinicians to estimate how heavy symptoms are at a given moment. Screeners don't diagnose. A score is a starting point for a conversation with a clinician, not a verdict on a person.

The two most widely used tools in adult primary care are the PHQ-9 for depression and the GAD-7 for anxiety. Each has its own page with the full instrument, an interactive scorer, and a printable version.

The PHQ-9 (depression)

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a nine-item screener that maps directly to the nine symptom criteria for major depressive disorder in the DSM. It's rated over the last two weeks, scored from 0 to 27, and grouped into severity bands from none to minimal up to severe. Item 9 asks specifically about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting oneself, and any non-zero response is a reason for same-day clinical follow-up.

Open the PHQ-9 depression test for the full instrument, an interactive scorer, the severity table, a printable version, and what a score does and doesn't mean.

The GAD-7 (anxiety)

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale is a seven-item screener for anxiety, rated over the last two weeks, scored from 0 to 21, and grouped into severity bands from minimal up to severe. Anxiety and depression often travel together, so the GAD-7 is frequently used alongside the PHQ-9.

Open the GAD-7 anxiety test for the full instrument, an interactive scorer, the severity table, a printable version, and what a score does and doesn't mean.

Other tools clinicians use

  • PHQ-2, the first two items of the PHQ-9, as a very brief first-pass screen.
  • MDQ (Mood Disorder Questionnaire) when bipolar disorder is being considered.
  • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during pregnancy and after birth.
  • PHQ-A for adolescents.
  • Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for older adults.

What a score can and can't tell you

A score is a snapshot of symptom severity over the last two weeks, on a scale clinicians recognize, and it's useful to repeat over time. It isn't a diagnosis. A low score doesn't rule a condition out, and a high score isn't a label. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose, using a full evaluation. Any score of 10 or higher on either tool is a reason to talk to a clinician.

Sources

  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001.
  • Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006.
  • USPSTF: Screening for Depression in Adults, 2023 update.

For anxiety-specific information, see our sister publication AnxietyResource.org, which is edited by the same physician reviewer and published by shrinkMD Publishing, LLC.

Frequently asked questions

What's the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a nine-item depression screen used in primary care, mental health clinics, and research. Each item is scored 0 to 3, for a total of 0 to 27. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. The PHQ-9 is a screen, not a diagnosis.
Does the USPSTF recommend depression screening?
Yes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for depression in the general adult population, including pregnant and postpartum people. The USPSTF gave this a Grade B recommendation, meaning there's moderate certainty of moderate net benefit.
What does my PHQ-9 score mean?
A score of 5 to 9 suggests mild depression. 10 to 14 suggests moderate depression. 15 to 19 suggests moderately severe depression. 20 or higher suggests severe depression. A positive score is a reason to talk to a clinician for a full evaluation, not a diagnosis on its own.
What's the GAD-7?
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) is a seven-item anxiety screen often paired with the PHQ-9. The same scoring scale (0 to 21) flags mild, moderate, and severe anxiety at thresholds of 5, 10, and 15. Many depression evaluations include both.
What about screening tools for postpartum depression?
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely used screen during pregnancy and the postpartum period. ACOG and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend screening at least once during the perinatal period, with many practices screening at every prenatal visit and at well-child visits during the first postpartum year.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. Last reviewed March 15, 2026.

Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.