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Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

This easy to use patient questionnaire is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders.1 The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day). It has been validated for use in Primary Care.2 It is not a screening tool for depression but it is used to monitor the severity of depression and response to treatment. It can be used to make a tentative diagnosis of depression.3

The PHQ-9 depression screener is available for use free of charge under license from MAPI research Trust
Practices should register their clinical use with MAPI trust who administer copyright permissions on behalf of Pfizer Limited.

EMIS practices may access the PHQ-9 via mentor. It is also available elsewhere on the internet


Validity has been assessed against an independent structured mental health professional (MHP) interview. PHQ-9 score ≥10 had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 88% for major depression.1,2 It can even be used over the telephone.4

Note about Credits

PHQ9 is ©Pfizer.
May only be reprinted with permission, courtesy of Pfizer Limited."
PRIME-MD ® is a trademark of Pfizer.

Document references

  1. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB; The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. [abstract]
  2. Dietrich AJ, Oxman TE, Burns MR, et al; Application of a depression management office system in community practice: a demonstration. J Am Board Fam Pract. 2003 Mar-Apr;16(2):107-14. [abstract]
  3. Use of the PHQ-9 to make a tentative diagnosis of depression; The Macarthur Initiative on Depression in Primary Care Website.
  4. Pinto-Meza A, Serrano-Blanco A, Penarrubia MT, et al; Assessing depression in primary care with the PHQ-9: can it be carried out over the telephone? J Gen Intern Med. 2005 Aug;20(8):738-42. [abstract]

Acknowledgements

EMIS is grateful to Dr Huw Thomas for writing this article. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2010.
Document ID: 2582
Document Version: 27
Document Reference: bgp25272
Last Updated: 30 Jun 2009
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