What does a PHQ-2 score of 3 or higher mean?

A score of 3 or above is the standard clinical cutpoint indicating a positive screen for depression. It does not diagnose depression but signals that a full evaluation — such as the PHQ-9 and a clinician visit — is recommended.

Is this tool a diagnosis?

No. The PHQ-2 is a screening instrument only. A positive screen means further assessment is warranted, not that you have depression. Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose a mental health condition.

How was the PHQ-2 validated?

The PHQ-2 was derived from the PHQ-9 by Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams (2003) and validated across thousands of primary care patients. It has a sensitivity of ~83% and specificity of ~92% for major depressive disorder at a cutpoint of 3.

What is the difference between PHQ-2 and PHQ-9?

The PHQ-2 covers only the two cardinal symptoms of depression (mood and interest) for rapid screening. The PHQ-9 adds seven more symptom domains (sleep, energy, appetite, self-worth, concentration, psychomotor changes, suicidal ideation) for fuller severity assessment.

Can I use this for someone else?

You can answer on behalf of another person if they cannot respond themselves, but the result should be reviewed with a clinician who knows the individual's full context.

Is my response stored?

No. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server and nothing is saved between sessions.

PHQ-2 Depression Screener

Name: PHQ-2 Depression Screener
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Answer two validated questions about mood and interest to get your PHQ-2 score with clinical interpretation and next-step guidance.

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things

Not at all (0) Several days (1) More than half the days (2) Nearly every day (3)

2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

Not at all (0) Several days (1) More than half the days (2) Nearly every day (3)

This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, contact a healthcare professional or a crisis helpline.

Answer both questions and press Calculate to see your PHQ-2 score and interpretation.

PHQ-2 Score Reference

Score	Level	Action
0–2	Minimal	Monitor; no immediate action required
3–4	Mild concern	Consider full PHQ-9 or clinician review
5–6	Elevated concern	Recommend PHQ-9 + clinical evaluation

Summary

Answer two validated questions about mood and interest to get your PHQ-2 score with clinical interpretation and next-step guidance.

How it works

Rate each of the two questions on a 4-point scale from "Not at all" (0) to "Nearly every day" (3).
The tool sums your two answers to produce a total score between 0 and 6.
Scores are compared against the validated PHQ-2 cutpoint of 3.
An interpretation badge — Minimal, Mild, or Elevated concern — appears with color-coded guidance.
Recommended next steps are shown based on your score range.
No data is stored or transmitted — the calculation is entirely client-side.

Use cases

Quick self-check between clinical appointments.
Primary care intake screening before seeing a provider.
Mental health awareness and education.
Research or population health studies using PHQ-2.
Pre-screening before completing the full PHQ-9.
Telehealth or digital health app integrations.
Employee wellness programs.
Student mental health self-assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu