SCREENERS

PHQ-9

Patient Health Questionnaire-9

Patient Health Questionnaire-9

The PHQ-9 is a validated, 9-question screening tool used to identify the presence and severity of depression in adults. One of the most widely used depression screeners in primary care and behavioral health, the PHQ-9 assesses depressive symptom frequency over the prior two weeks and produces a severity score to guide clinical next steps.

Delivered digitally through the BrainCheck platform, the PHQ-9 can be completed in a few minutes, making it practical for routine screening and longitudinal monitoring alongside cognitive and behavioral assessments.

Benefits include:

  • Validated 9-question screener for identifying and classifying depression severity in adults.
  • Brief digital administration practical for routine primary care and behavioral health screening.
  • Structured severity scoring guides clinical decision-making and next-step planning.
  • Longitudinal tracking allows monitoring of treatment response and symptom changes over time.

What the PHQ-9 Measures

Frequency of nine core depressive symptoms over the prior two weeks.

Functional impact of mood symptoms on daily activities.

Depression severity classification to guide clinical next steps and referrals.

Common Clinical Use Cases

  • Routine depression screening in primary care and family medicine.
  • Behavioral health monitoring and treatment response tracking.
  • Outcomes tracking in population health and value-based care programs.
  • Supporting referrals, shared decision-making, and documentation of mood symptom burden.

On the BrainCheck Platform

  • Fully digital, patient self-administered on tablets or computers.
  • Automated scoring with structured reporting for clinical documentation.
  • Enables longitudinal symptom tracking alongside cognitive assessment data.
  • Integrates into broader BrainCheck cognitive and behavioral care workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key things to know about the PHQ-9

What is the PHQ-9 used for?

The PHQ-9 is a validated screening tool used to identify depressive symptoms and assess their severity and functional impact in adults.

Is the PHQ-9 a diagnostic test for depression?

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool. Results are used to inform clinical judgment, follow-up evaluation, and treatment planning.

How long does the PHQ-9 take to complete?

The PHQ-9 typically takes a few minutes to complete, making it practical for routine screening and monitoring in primary care and behavioral health settings.

How are PHQ-9 results used in clinical care?

PHQ-9 scores help clinicians classify depression severity, monitor symptom changes over time, and evaluate treatment response.

What are the benefits of administering the PHQ-9 through BrainCheck?

On BrainCheck, the PHQ-9 is digitally self-administered, automatically scored, and tracked longitudinally, allowing mood data to be reviewed alongside cognitive screening and assessment results.

More Clinical Evaluation Tools

BrainCheck offers a broad library of clinical evaluation tools designed to support early identification, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring of cognitive health across clinical and research settings.

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