About this screening · Depression · PHQ-9
I feel sad, empty or irritable
Everyone has low days. Depression is different in how long it lasts and how much it takes: little interest in things you used to enjoy, feeling sad, empty or irritable for most of the day, changes in sleep, appetite or energy, and a harsher view of yourself than usual.
This screening uses the PHQ-9, nine questions about the last two weeks that are used by doctors and counselors around the world as a first check for depression. It takes about two minutes.
Start the screeningAnonymous. No name, no sign-up. A few minutes.
About the PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 is a short self-report assessment of symptoms related to depression, based on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the DSM. It asks how often you have experienced each symptom over the past two weeks.
It supports both screening and monitoring over time. In non-clinical settings such as a university it serves as a first step towards identifying who might benefit from a fuller evaluation, and it suits people of 13 and older.
Each of its nine items corresponds to a key symptom of depression, so the total gives a consistent picture of symptom burden rather than a verdict.
How it is scored
- Each of the 9 items is scored 0–3: not at all 0, several days 1, more than half the days 2, nearly every day 3.
- The total is the sum of all 9 items, to a maximum of 27. Bands: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe.
- The screen is positive at 10 or above. The tenth question, about difficulty functioning, is reported but not scored.
Source. Informed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated framework for assessing the degree of depression severity.
What the result means
A screening result is not a diagnosis. It tells you whether your answers resemble a pattern that is worth discussing with a professional.
Two people with the same score can be in very different situations, and only a qualified clinician can assess yours.
Where to get help
The Health and Counseling Center at Hamad Bin Khalifa University offers confidential counseling to the HBKU community. You do not need a screening result to get in touch.