Depression Test: What Your PHQ-9 and BDI Scores Mean
A depression test is a self-assessment tool that helps you reflect on your mood and how it changes. The best-known questionnaires are the PHQ-9 and the BDI. This article explains what the scores mean, how to choose a reliable test and what to do after your result. A test doesn’t replace a professional assessment.
Jevgeni Nietosniitty, psychologist··Updated ·9 min read
A depression test is a questionnaire that helps you reflect on your mood and how strong any depressive symptoms are. The most widely used are the PHQ-9 and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). On the PHQ-9, scores of 0–4 suggest minimal symptoms, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe and 20–27 severe depression. A test is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis: only a healthcare professional can diagnose depression.
Key points
The PHQ-9 asks about the past two weeks; the original BDI asks about the past week and the newer BDI-II about the past two weeks.
PHQ-9 ranges: 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19 and 20–27. Original BDI ranges: 0–9, 10–18, 19–29 and 30–63.
Choose a test from a reliable source, such as your healthcare provider or a public health service, not a random online quiz.
If your result worries you or your symptoms get in the way of daily life, talk to a professional.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call your local emergency number or crisis helpline.
Depression test: a first step toward understanding your situation
If you’ve been wondering whether your feelings could be depression, you’ve already taken an important step. A depression test is a simple tool that helps map out your own symptoms and their intensity. The most commonly used depression tests are PHQ-9 and BDI-21, which are also used in healthcare.
In this article, we go through what these tests measure, how to interpret the results, and what to do based on the results. We also describe the limitations of the test, since self-assessment is useful but doesn’t replace an assessment made by a professional.
Why is it worth taking a depression test?
Depression often creeps in slowly, and recognizing it in yourself can be difficult. Many have become accustomed to a low mood and think “this is just my personality” or “everyone is tired sometimes.”
A depression test helps you stop and examine your own well-being systematically. It can:
Help put feelings into words that have felt vague
Show that the symptoms are real and not imagined
Motivate you to seek help
Serve as a conversation opener at a professional appointment
PHQ-9: the most common depression test
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is the world’s most widely used depression questionnaire. It consists of nine questions based on the criteria used to recognize depression, and it is freely available.
What does PHQ-9 ask?
Each question concerns the past two weeks, and the answer options are:
0 = not at all
1 = several days
2 = more than half the days
3 = nearly every day
The questions cover:
Loss of pleasure or interest
Low mood or hopelessness
Sleep difficulties (too much or too little)
Fatigue or lack of energy
Appetite changes
Feeling bad or like a failure
Difficulty concentrating
Slow movements or speech, or restlessness
Thoughts of self-harm
PHQ-9 scores and what they mean
0–4 points: No depression or minimal symptoms
5–9 points: Mild depression
10–14 points: Moderate depression
15–19 points: Moderately severe depression
20–27 points: Severe depression
A score above 10 indicates that a professional assessment would be beneficial. But even lower scores can be significant if symptoms hinder daily functioning. Pay particular attention to question 9: if you have had thoughts of harming yourself, talk to a professional regardless of your total score.
BDI: the Beck Depression Inventory and its scores
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a questionnaire developed by Aaron Beck and widely used in healthcare. It has 21 questions, each scored 0–3, so the total ranges from 0 to 63. There are two main versions with different score ranges, so check which one you filled in.
Original BDI scores (past week)
0–9 points: Minimal depression
10–18 points: Mild depression
19–29 points: Moderate depression
30–63 points: Severe depression
BDI-II scores (past two weeks)
0–13 points: Minimal depression
14–19 points: Mild depression
20–28 points: Moderate depression
29–63 points: Severe depression
The BDI-II is copyright protected and is usually filled in at a healthcare appointment. Some public health services offer a version of the BDI online. Scores are indicative only and can’t be used to make a diagnosis.
How to find a reliable depression test
There are many depression tests online, and not all of them are reliable. Random quizzes can give a misleading picture and add unnecessary worry. Choose a test that:
Is a researched, recognized questionnaire, such as the PHQ-9 or the BDI
Comes from a trustworthy source, such as your healthcare provider or a public health service
Explains clearly what the scores mean and what to do next
Doesn’t collect your personal details or try to sell you something based on your result
Self-assessment: recognize the signs of depression
The checklist below is based on typical symptoms of depression. This is not a medical test but a tool for understanding your own situation.
Consider whether you have experienced the following over the past two weeks:
Mood has been low for most of the day, almost every day
Interest or pleasure in things you previously enjoyed has disappeared
Fatigue has increased significantly
Sleep is disrupted: you sleep too little or too much
Appetite has changed clearly (increased or decreased)
Concentration is difficult: reading, watching television, or working doesn’t succeed
You feel worthless or unnecessarily guilty
Your movement or speech has slowed, or you are more restless than usual
You have thought about death or self-harm
If you recognize yourself in five or more items and the symptoms have lasted more than two weeks, it’s good to talk about the situation with a professional.
If you notice that your mood drops especially in autumn and winter, read more about seasonal depression.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, you don’t have to face them alone. Call your local emergency number or your local crisis helpline, or go to your nearest emergency department.
What does a depression test result mean?
It’s important to understand what a depression test can and cannot tell you.
What the test tells you
Gives an overview of the number and intensity of symptoms
Helps track changes in your well-being over time
Serves as a useful starting point for a conversation with a professional
What the test doesn’t tell you
The test doesn’t give a diagnosis: only a healthcare professional can do that
The test doesn’t distinguish depression from other conditions with similar symptoms (e.g., hypothyroidism, anemia, sleep apnea)
A single test result doesn’t tell the whole picture: daily energy and mood affect the answers
Depression is a complex whole, and assessing it requires a broader view than a single questionnaire. The test is a good starting point, not an endpoint.
What to do after the test?
If your scores suggest mild depression
Mild symptoms can be eased with self-care methods. Check the basics:
Are you sleeping enough?
Are you exercising regularly?
Are your social connections in order?
Are there significant stress factors in your life?
Monitor your well-being and take the test again in a couple of weeks. If symptoms continue or worsen, contact your healthcare provider.
If your scores suggest moderate depression
Moderate depression usually benefits from professional help. Book an appointment at your healthcare provider or occupational health. A professional will assess your situation and recommend appropriate treatment, often therapy, sometimes medication, or a combination of these.
If your scores suggest severe depression
Don’t delay seeking help. Severe depression is a serious condition that requires professional treatment. Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Self-help programs for depression can support recovery alongside professional help.
Depression test as part of treatment
Depression tests aren’t only one-time tools. They are also used during treatment to track progress. Many therapists and doctors ask patients to fill out the PHQ-9 questionnaire at regular intervals.
This helps:
Show concretely how well-being is changing
Identify if treatment isn’t working and needs to be changed
Keep you motivated when the change shows up in your scores
You can also track your own well-being by taking the test once a month and writing down the results.
When is the test not enough?
There are situations where merely taking the test is not enough and a professional assessment is essential:
You have suicidal thoughts or plans
You can’t take care of yourself or basic daily needs
Symptoms have continued for a long time without relief
You use alcohol or other substances to manage how you feel
You suspect that the symptoms could be due to a physical illness
National mental health organizations offer reliable information about recognizing and treating depression.
Frequently asked questions
What does my depression test score mean?
It depends on the questionnaire. On the PHQ-9, 0–4 suggests minimal symptoms, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe and 20–27 severe depression. On the original BDI, 0–9 is minimal, 10–18 mild, 19–29 moderate and 30–63 severe. A score is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 is a nine-question questionnaire that looks at how often you have had common depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Scores range from 0 to 27, and a score above 10 suggests a professional assessment would be helpful.
Can I take a depression test online?
Yes. Many public health services offer the PHQ-9 or a version of the BDI online. Choose a recognized questionnaire from a reliable source rather than a random quiz.
Can a depression test tell me if I have depression?
No. A test shows how many symptoms you have and how strong they are, but only a healthcare professional can diagnose depression. Bring your result with you when you talk to a professional.
Getting started is what matters
Taking a depression test can feel scary. What if the scores are high? What does that mean? But taking the test doesn’t change your situation; it just helps you see more clearly where you are.
When you know where you stand, you can start to do something about it. That can mean small changes to daily life, a conversation with a loved one, or booking an appointment with a professional.
Sometimes just putting into words what you feel is already a relief.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.
If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. If you are thinking about harming yourself, contact your local crisis helpline.
