About this test
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) asks how often, over the last two weeks, nine specific problems have bothered you — things like losing interest in what you normally enjoy, sleeping too little or too much, low energy, and feeling bad about yourself. Each answer scores 0 to 3, so the total runs from 0 to 27.
It is used in clinics because it does two jobs at once: it flags whether depression is likely, and it measures how severe it is. That second part matters — the same questionnaire repeated a month into treatment shows whether things are actually improving, rather than relying on memory.
The ninth question asks directly about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself. If you answer anything other than "not at all" to that question, please treat it as a reason to speak to someone today.
What your score means
| Score | Result | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal | Few or no signs of depression at the moment. |
| 5–9 | Mild | Some symptoms. Often worth monitoring, and worth talking about if they persist. |
| 10–14 | Moderate | A level at which most clinicians would recommend a proper assessment. |
| 15–19 | Moderately severe | Treatment is usually recommended — therapy, medication, or both. |
| 20–27 | Severe | Please arrange to speak to a psychiatrist promptly. |
If you are thinking about harming yourself, please do not wait for a test result. Call us on +91 72669 93399, call 112, or go to your nearest emergency department.
Frequently asked questions
Next steps
A screening result is a starting point, not a verdict. If your result concerns you — or if it looks fine but you still do not feel right — a conversation with a clinician costs you nothing and takes twenty minutes. Depression treatment at SSHIMOH.