You answered two questions about the past two weeks and got a score between 0 and 6. The PHQ-2 is designed to do one thing: identify whether you might benefit from a more complete depression assessment. Here's what your score means.
The quick answer
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | Depression unlikely; no further screening needed |
| 3-4 | Possible depression; further assessment recommended |
| 5-6 | Depression likely; complete assessment strongly recommended |
A score of 3 or higher is considered a "positive screen." This doesn't mean you have depression—it means the screening suggests you should complete a more thorough assessment.
What the PHQ-2 actually measures
The two questions ask about the core symptoms of depression:
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things (anhedonia)
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (depressed mood)
These aren't just two random depression symptoms. They're the two that must be present for a diagnosis of major depression. If you don't have at least one of these, you don't meet criteria for major depressive disorder—which is why asking about them is an efficient way to screen.
Why only two questions?
The PHQ-2 was designed for situations where time is limited—like your annual physical or a quick check-in at a clinic. It takes less than a minute and catches about 83% of people who actually have major depression.
The tradeoff: it can't tell you how severe your depression is, whether you need treatment, or what kind of treatment might help. That requires the full PHQ-9 or a conversation with a provider.
What to do based on your score
Score 0-2 (negative screen)
Your answers suggest depression is unlikely right now. The PHQ-2 is good at ruling out depression—over 95% of people who score 0-2 don't have major depression.
That said:
- If you're still concerned about how you're feeling, trust yourself. Screening tools aren't perfect.
- Depression can develop later. If things change, get screened again.
- Other issues (anxiety, stress, grief, burnout) might explain symptoms even when depression screening is negative.
Score 3-4 (positive screen)
Your score suggests possible depression. The next step is completing the PHQ-9, which has 9 questions and gives a clearer picture of symptom severity.
This doesn't mean you definitely have depression. About 1 in 5 people who score positive on the PHQ-2 don't have major depression when evaluated more thoroughly. But it's worth finding out.
Score 5-6 (strong positive)
The highest possible scores indicate both core depression symptoms are present at significant frequency. Completing the PHQ-9 is strongly recommended—and if that score is elevated too, talking to a healthcare provider makes sense.
What the PHQ-2 doesn't tell you
It doesn't diagnose depression. A positive screen means "further evaluation recommended," not "you have depression."
It doesn't measure severity. A score of 3 and a score of 6 both mean "positive screen"—the PHQ-2 can't tell you whether symptoms are mild or severe.
It doesn't assess suicidal thoughts. Unlike the PHQ-9, the PHQ-2 doesn't ask about thoughts of self-harm. If you're having those thoughts, please reach out for help regardless of your score.
It doesn't account for why you feel this way. Grief, medical illness, medication side effects, and life stress can all cause symptoms that trigger a positive screen without being clinical depression.
The relationship between PHQ-2 and PHQ-9
The PHQ-2 is actually the first two questions of the PHQ-9. They're designed to work together:
- PHQ-2: Quick screen to identify who needs further assessment
- PHQ-9: Full assessment to evaluate severity and guide treatment
If your PHQ-2 was positive, completing the PHQ-9 makes sense. You'll answer 7 more questions about sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and other depression symptoms. That fuller picture helps determine whether treatment might help and what kind.
Common questions
Can I just take the PHQ-9 instead?
Yes. The PHQ-9 includes the PHQ-2 questions plus seven more. If you have time for the full assessment, there's no disadvantage to skipping the 2-question version.
How accurate is such a short questionnaire?
More accurate than you might expect. The PHQ-2 catches 83% of people with major depression (sensitivity) and correctly rules out depression in 92% of people who don't have it (specificity). It's not perfect, but it's validated and widely used.
I scored positive but I don't feel depressed—what gives?
The questions ask about interest/pleasure and feeling down, which can be affected by things other than clinical depression: burnout, grief, physical illness, major life changes. A positive screen means "let's look closer," not "you're depressed."
I scored negative but I know something's wrong.
Trust your experience. The PHQ-2 misses about 17% of depression cases. If you're struggling, tell your provider. You might benefit from a full PHQ-9 or evaluation for other conditions (anxiety, for instance, isn't captured by the PHQ-2).
My provider only gave me the PHQ-2. Should I be concerned they're not taking mental health seriously?
Not necessarily. The PHQ-2 is the recommended first-step screener for depression in primary care. If it's positive, you should receive follow-up—either the PHQ-9 or a conversation with your provider. If they screen and then ignore a positive result, that's a different problem.
When to seek help regardless of score
Contact a healthcare provider if:
- You're having thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
- Your symptoms are interfering with daily life (work, relationships, self-care)
- You've felt this way for more than two weeks and it's not improving
- You're concerned about your mental health, even if your score was low
A screening tool is a starting point, not the final word.
The bottom line
The PHQ-2 answers one question: "Is further depression assessment warranted?" A score of 0-2 says probably not; a score of 3 or higher says yes. If you screened positive, take the PHQ-9 or talk to a healthcare provider. The PHQ-2 can't diagnose depression or measure its severity—it just opens the door to a more complete evaluation.
Related assessments
- PHQ-9 — The full depression assessment (take this if your PHQ-2 was positive). See what your PHQ-9 score means
- GAD-2 — The 2-question anxiety equivalent. See what your GAD-2 score means
- PHQ-4 — PHQ-2 + GAD-2 combined (depression and anxiety screen in 4 questions). See what your PHQ-4 score means
- DASS-21 — Measures depression, anxiety, and stress together. See what your DASS-21 score means
For tips on using these assessments over time, see our guide on how to track your mental health over time.