About the PHQ-9
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used depression screening tools in primary care and mental health. Each of its nine questions matches a symptom clinicians look for when they assess depression. Each answer scores from 0 to 3, for a total between 0 and 27.
What your score means
- 0 to 4: minimal symptoms
- 5 to 9: mild symptoms
- 10 to 14: moderate symptoms
- 15 to 19: moderately severe symptoms
- 20 to 27: severe symptoms
A score of 10 or more is where clinicians usually recommend a full evaluation. Your score is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
What to do next
If your score is in the moderate range or above, or the way you have been feeling worries you, talk to your doctor, a therapist or our admissions team. Depression is very treatable. Fountain Hills Recovery provides depression treatment for adults in a small residential program near Scottsdale, along with PHP and IOP care in Fountain Hills. If drinking or drug use is part of the picture too, our dual diagnosis team treats both together. You can also take our anxiety self-check or alcohol use self-check.
If you are thinking about suicide or hurting yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day. If you are in danger right now, call 911.
