Research version of PHQ-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies. ≈ 2 min to complete. Free with attribution.
PHQ-8 (Patient Health Questionnaire-8) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess research version of phq-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies.. It is most often used for research version of phq-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies.. The instrument contains 8 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 2 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
Research version of PHQ-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies. PHQ-8 is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, PHQ-8 is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 8 items below to see your PHQ-8 score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 4-point scale (0–3). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Sum all 8 items scored 0-3. Total range 0-24. Same cutoffs as PHQ-9 but max 24.
Scoring notes: Sum all 8 items scored 0-3. Total range 0-24. Same cutoffs as PHQ-9 but max 24.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Minimal | None |
| 5–9 | Mild | Watchful waiting |
| 10–14 | Moderate | Consider treatment |
| 15–19 | Moderately Severe | Active treatment recommended |
| 20–24 | Severe | Immediate treatment |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little interest or pleasure in doing things | Several days | 1 |
| 2 | Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless | Several days | 1 |
| 3 | Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much | Several days | 1 |
| 4 | Feeling tired or having little energy | Several days | 1 |
| 5 | Poor appetite or overeating | Several days | 1 |
| 6 | Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down | Several days | 1 |
| 7 | Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television | Not at all | 0 |
| 8 | Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed; or being so fidgety or restless | Several days | 1 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 = 7
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 7 falls between 5 and 9 → Mild
Mild. Watchful waiting
A score is one input alongside history and examination. PHQ-8 supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If PHQ-8 doesn't fit your context, related instruments in depression include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-2 | Ultra-brief depression screening for busy clinical settings. | 2 | ≈ 1 min |
| CES-D | 20-item screening test for depressive symptoms in the general population. | 20 | ≈ 5 min |
| HADS-D | 7-item depression subscale designed for hospital and clinical outpatient settings. | 7 | ≈ 2 min |
| SDS | 20-item self-report scale measuring affective, psychological, and somatic symptoms of depression. | 20 | ≈ 5 min |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
PHQ-8 (Patient Health Questionnaire-8) is a validated instrument that assesses research version of phq-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies.. Its primary clinical use is research version of phq-9 excluding suicidality item for general population studies..
PHQ-8 typically takes ≈ 2 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
PHQ-8 contains 8 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 20–24 fall in the "Severe" band. Immediate treatment
Scores of 0–4 fall in the "Minimal" band. None
PHQ-8 has reported Cronbach's α of 0.88 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.8. Comparable to PHQ-9 in detecting major depression.
PHQ-8 is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation
Kroenke, K., Strine, T. W., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B., Berry, J. T., & Mokdad, A. H. (2009). The PHQ-8 as a measure of current depression in the general population. Journal of Affective Disorders, 114(1-3), 163-173.
No. PHQ-8 is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
PHQ-8 is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: