You took the PHQ-8, an 8-question depression screening tool. It's nearly identical to the PHQ-9—the most widely used depression questionnaire—but with one important difference: it doesn't ask about thoughts of self-harm. Here's what your score means.
The quick answer
| Score | Severity | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | Minimal | Normal mood; no depression indicated |
| 5-9 | Mild | Some symptoms; may benefit from monitoring |
| 10-14 | Moderate | Likely depression; treatment recommended |
| 15-19 | Moderately severe | Significant depression; active treatment needed |
| 20-24 | Severe | Severe depression; urgent evaluation recommended |
A score of 10 or higher suggests probable major depression. At this cutoff, the PHQ-8 catches about 88% of people who actually have depression.
What the PHQ-8 measures
The 8 questions cover core depression symptoms over the past two weeks:
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things (anhedonia)
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3. Trouble falling/staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
5. Poor appetite or overeating
6. Feeling bad about yourself—or that you're a failure
7. Trouble concentrating
8. Moving or speaking slowly, or being fidgety/restless
These align with the DSM criteria for major depression. If you have several of these symptoms most days for at least two weeks, you may have a depressive episode.
PHQ-8 vs. PHQ-9: What's the difference?
The PHQ-9 includes one additional question (item 9): "Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way."
The PHQ-8 deliberately omits this question. Why?
Suicide screening requires follow-up. If someone answers yes to thoughts of self-harm, a trained clinician should assess that response further. In research studies, population health surveys, or online platforms where immediate clinical follow-up isn't available, asking about suicidal thoughts without being able to respond appropriately raises ethical concerns.
For depression severity, the difference is minimal. Research shows the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 perform almost identically for detecting depression. The suicide question adds important safety information, but it doesn't significantly change how well the tool measures depression itself.
| PHQ-8 | PHQ-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| **Questions** | 8 | 9 |
| **Score range** | 0-24 | 0-27 |
| **Suicide screening** | No | Yes |
| **Accuracy for depression** | ~88% | ~88% |
What to do based on your score
Score 0-4 (minimal symptoms)
Your answers suggest you're not experiencing significant depression right now. Normal ups and downs fall into this range.
Score 5-9 (mild depression)
You have some depressive symptoms, but they're at a mild level. Consider:
- Monitoring how you feel over the next few weeks
- Basic self-care: sleep, exercise, social connection
- Retaking the assessment in 2-4 weeks to see if things improve
If symptoms persist or worsen, consider talking to a healthcare provider.
Score 10-14 (moderate depression)
This score suggests probable depression that typically benefits from treatment. Consider:
- Scheduling an appointment with your doctor or a mental health provider
- Discussing whether therapy, medication, or both might help
- Not waiting to see if it resolves on its own—moderate depression often doesn't
Score 15-19 (moderately severe depression)
Your symptoms are significant and likely affecting daily functioning. Professional evaluation and treatment are recommended:
- Seek mental health evaluation promptly
- Combined treatment (therapy + medication) is often most effective at this severity
- Don't minimize these symptoms—they represent substantial impairment
Score 20-24 (severe depression)
This level of depression typically causes serious difficulty with daily life. Urgent professional attention is warranted:
- Contact a mental health provider soon
- Talk to your primary care doctor if you can't get a mental health appointment quickly
- If you're having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room
Important: About thoughts of self-harm
The PHQ-8 doesn't ask about suicidal thoughts. This doesn't mean those thoughts aren't important—they are.
If you're having thoughts of hurting yourself or that you'd be better off dead:
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- Go to your nearest emergency room
- Tell someone you trust
- Contact your healthcare provider
Your PHQ-8 score doesn't capture these thoughts. Please reach out for help if you're experiencing them.
How the PHQ-8 is typically used
You might encounter the PHQ-8 in:
Research and surveys: Large population studies often use PHQ-8 because they can't provide individual clinical follow-up for every participant.
Employee wellness programs: Workplace mental health screenings may use PHQ-8 when trained crisis responders aren't immediately available.
Online health platforms: Apps and websites that screen for depression often use PHQ-8 because they can't respond in real-time to suicidal ideation.
Telehealth intake: Some remote healthcare settings use PHQ-8 before a provider is directly involved.
If you're seeing a clinician in person, they'll typically use the PHQ-9 instead.
Tracking over time
The PHQ-8 is useful for monitoring depression during treatment:
- Change of 5+ points: Represents meaningful change (not just measurement fluctuation)
- Dropping below 10: Suggests depression has improved to the point where it may not meet diagnostic criteria
- Dropping below 5: Suggests remission
Take the assessment every 2-4 weeks during active treatment to track progress.
Common questions
My score was moderate but I don't feel that bad. What gives?
Depression often develops gradually. You may have normalized symptoms or not recognized them as depression. The questionnaire captures what you're experiencing even if you're used to it.
My score was low but I'm still struggling.
The PHQ-8 measures specific depression symptoms over two weeks. If your distress takes different forms (anxiety, stress, grief) or fluctuates significantly, your score might not capture it fully. Trust your experience—if something's wrong, it's worth discussing with a provider.
Should I take the PHQ-9 instead?
If you're in a clinical setting, yes—the PHQ-9 includes important safety screening. If you're using an app or survey that only offers PHQ-8, your depression severity results will be nearly identical.
Does a PHQ-8 score of 12 mean the same thing as a PHQ-9 score of 12?
Almost. PHQ-9 scores can be slightly higher (up to 3 points) because of the additional question. But for detecting depression and measuring severity, the scores are comparable.
The bottom line
The PHQ-8 measures depression severity across 8 symptom areas. Scores of 0-4 suggest no significant depression; 5-9 is mild; 10 or higher indicates probable depression that likely benefits from treatment. The PHQ-8 is essentially the PHQ-9 without the suicide question—equally accurate for measuring depression but used in settings where suicide risk assessment protocols aren't available. If you're having thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for help regardless of your PHQ-8 score.
Related assessments
- PHQ-9 — The full version with suicide screening (used in clinical settings)
- PHQ-2 — Ultra-brief 2-question depression screen
- GAD-7 — Anxiety assessment (commonly co-occurs with depression)
- DASS-21 — Combined depression, anxiety, and stress