You answered sixteen questions about the past week: how you slept, how sad you felt, what happened to your appetite, whether you could concentrate. Now you have a score between 0 and 27.
Here's the part most people don't expect: your score isn't just the sum of your sixteen answers. The QIDS has its own way of counting, and understanding it makes your number much more meaningful.
The QIDS-SR-16 in 30 seconds
The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (Self-Report) is a 16-item questionnaire that measures how severe depression symptoms have been over the past seven days. It was developed by A. John Rush and colleagues, distilled from a longer 30-item inventory, and became one of the most heavily used measures in depression research. It anchored the STAR*D study, the largest real-world depression treatment trial ever run.
Clinics like it because it earns its length. Sixteen questions cover all nine symptom domains that define major depression, and the score responds when symptoms change. Take it weekly during treatment and the trend line tells you whether things are moving.
Why 16 questions but a maximum of 27
Each answer scores 0 to 3. Sixteen questions at 3 points each would suggest a maximum of 48, but the QIDS tops out at 27. That's because the questionnaire measures nine symptom domains, and some domains offer several ways to show up:
- Sleep has four questions (trouble falling asleep, waking during the night, waking too early, sleeping too much). Only your highest answer counts.
- Appetite and weight has four questions covering both directions of change. Again, only the highest counts, which is why the form asks you to complete either question 6 or 7, and either 8 or 9.
- Restlessness and slowing has two questions. Highest one counts.
- The other six domains (sad mood, concentration, self-view, thoughts of death, interest, energy) are one question each.
So your total is the sum of your nine worst domain scores: nine domains, 0 to 3 each, 0 to 27 overall. The logic is clinical: waking at 3am and also sleeping poorly overall is one sleep problem, not two separate ones.
What the scores mean
| Score | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | No depression |
| 6-10 | Mild depression |
| 11-15 | Moderate depression |
| 16-20 | Severe depression |
| 21-27 | Very severe depression |
A score of 6 or more suggests symptoms worth discussing with a healthcare provider. From 11 up, evaluation and treatment are usually recommended. In treatment studies, remission is commonly defined as a QIDS score of 5 or less, so if you're being treated, that's the target your clinician is probably watching for.
QIDS vs PHQ-9: same range, different thresholds
If you've also taken a PHQ-9, you may notice both scales run 0 to 27. The cutoffs are not the same. A 12 on the PHQ-9 sits in its moderate band (10-14), and a 12 on the QIDS is also moderate (11-15), but the bands shift at different points, and the two questionnaires ask about different time windows: the PHQ-9 covers two weeks, the QIDS covers seven days. Don't compare a QIDS number directly against a PHQ-9 number; compare each against its own scale.
One question deserves special attention
Question 12 asks about thoughts of death or suicide. Any answer above zero on that question matters on its own, no matter what your total score is. A person can score 4 overall and still need immediate support if that one answer is elevated.
If you're having thoughts of suicide, don't wait for a follow-up appointment. In the US, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) any time, day or night. If you're elsewhere, local emergency services or a crisis line can help now.
What your score is not
The QIDS measures symptom severity. It doesn't diagnose depression, rule out other conditions, or know your circumstances. Poor sleep from a newborn, appetite loss from a stomach bug, and low energy from anemia all raise QIDS scores without depression being the cause. That's why the number is a conversation starter with a clinician, not a verdict.
It's also a snapshot of one week. A rough week produces a worse score than your average month. If a single result seems off, taking it again a week or two later says more than any one number.
What to do with your result
0-5: Nothing needed. If you took the QIDS because something felt off, keep an eye on things and retake it in a few weeks.
6-10: Mention it to your doctor or a mental health professional, especially if the symptoms have lasted more than two weeks. Mild symptoms often respond well to early, low-intensity support.
11-15: Book an appointment. This range usually warrants a proper evaluation and a conversation about treatment options.
16-27: Take it seriously and act soon. Scores here reflect symptoms that are significantly interfering with daily life, and effective treatments exist. If question 12 was elevated, reach out for support today rather than waiting.
If you're already in treatment, bring the score to your next session. A series of QIDS results over weeks is one of the most useful things you can hand a clinician, because the trend shows whether the current plan is working long before it's obvious day to day.