PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Scores: What Your Number Means

The PHQ-9 measures depression symptoms on a scale of 0 to 27, and the GAD-7 measures anxiety symptoms on a scale of 0 to 21. On both, 0 to 4 is minimal, 5 to 9 is mild and 10 to 14 is moderate. On the PHQ-9, 15 to 19 is moderately severe and 20 to 27 is severe. On the GAD-7, 15 to 21 is severe. A score of 10 or more on either is the usual point where a doctor would want to talk with you properly.

If you have not taken them yet, the mood check scores both privately on your device.

How the scoring works#

Both questionnaires ask about the past two weeks. Each question is scored by how often a symptom bothered you: 0 for not at all, 1 for several days, 2 for more than half the days, and 3 for nearly every day.

The PHQ-9 has nine questions, so the top score is 27. They cover low mood, loss of interest, sleep, energy, appetite, self-criticism, concentration, moving or speaking slowly or being restless, and thoughts of death or self-harm. The GAD-7 has seven questions, so the top score is 21. They cover nervousness, uncontrollable worry, worrying too much, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability and a sense of dread.

PHQ-9 score by score#

A PHQ-9 of 10 sits right on the common cutoff. In research, scores of 10 or more pick up most people who turn out to have major depression on a full assessment. A PHQ-9 score of 12 is moderate and a good reason to book an appointment. A PHQ-9 of 15 moves into the moderately severe band, where most guidelines suggest active treatment rather than waiting. A PHQ-9 of 20 or more deserves a prompt visit, within days rather than weeks.

GAD-7 score by score#

A GAD-7 of 8 is mild and worth watching. A GAD-7 of 10 is the usual cutoff for a proper assessment. It is designed around generalized anxiety, but scores this high often also pick up panic disorder, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress. A GAD-7 of 15 or more means anxiety is likely taking a large toll, and it is worth seeing someone soon.

Why question 9 matters on its own#

The last PHQ-9 question asks about thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way. Any answer other than "not at all" matters, whatever your total score. Someone can score 7 overall and still have these thoughts.

These thoughts are common in depression. They do not mean you will act on them, and they do pass with support and treatment. But they deserve a conversation with a doctor or mental health professional soon, the same day if they feel strong.

• If you might act on thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call your local emergency number now.
• US and Canada: call or text 988, any hour.
• UK and Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123, any hour.
• Anywhere else: findahelpline.com lists free lines by country.

How often to retake#

Every 2 to 4 weeks is enough. The questions cover two weeks, so taking them daily mostly measures your mood that morning. Try to answer at the same time of day and in similar conditions, since tiredness late at night pushes scores up.

Watch the trend. A drop of 5 points or more is usually seen as a meaningful change. A PHQ-9 that falls below 5 and stays there is what doctors hope to see with treatment. Bring your past scores to appointments. A list of numbers over two months tells a clinician a lot in a few seconds.

What screening cannot tell you#

These are screening tools, not a diagnosis. A high score says your symptoms deserve attention. It does not say why they are there.

Several physical problems raise scores convincingly:

• An underactive or overactive thyroid
• Anemia or low vitamin B12
• Untreated sleep apnea, which causes tiredness, poor focus and low mood
• Some medicines, such as steroids
• Alcohol, which deepens low mood and worsens anxiety in the days after drinking
• Caffeine, which pushes GAD-7 scores up

This is why a doctor assessing a high score will often ask about sleep, drinking and medicines, and may order basic blood tests. The PHQ-9 also misses some things. It does not detect spells of very high energy, which matter for bipolar disorder, and grief can raise scores without being depression.

Taking your score to a doctor#

You do not need to explain the questionnaire. Saying "I scored 14 on the PHQ-9 and it has been like this for a month" opens the conversation well. Mention how much the symptoms affect work, home and relationships, since the score alone does not capture that.

If you want a second view on what your numbers mean before an appointment, a psychiatrist on our team can answer one question in writing within 24 hours for $29.

What I see in clinic#

The most common pattern I see is a score that crept up slowly over months. People adapt to feeling worse and stop noticing. Seeing a 6 become a 13 on paper is often what finally makes them book. The second pattern is someone with a moderate score and a physical cause nobody had checked, most often poor sleep or heavy drinking.

The bottom line#

On both tools, 10 or more is the usual point to see a doctor. Question 9 of the PHQ-9 matters on its own, whatever the total. Retake every 2 to 4 weeks and watch the trend, not a single number. A score points you toward help. It does not replace a proper assessment.