Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
The PHQ-2 is a brief two-question screening measure about low mood and reduced interest during the last two weeks. Each response is scored from 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 6.
A screening score is not a diagnosis. It is intended to identify when a fuller assessment may be appropriate. The result must be considered with symptoms, functioning, history and clinical context by a qualified healthcare professional.
The response values are 0, 1, 2 and 3. The page notes whether the total is below 3 or at least 3, a commonly studied screening threshold. It does not label the person as having or not having depression.
PHQ-2 total = interest-item score + mood-item score
Response scoring is: Not at all=0; Several days=1; More than half the days=2; Nearly every day=3. The possible total is 0–6.
The original validation study reported that a score of 3 was an effective cut point for screening purposes, but sensitivity and specificity depend on setting and population. A threshold does not turn a screening tool into a diagnostic examination.
| Item or value | Meaning | Score range |
|---|---|---|
| Interest item | Frequency of little interest or pleasure over the last two weeks | 0–3 |
| Mood item | Frequency of feeling down, depressed or hopeless over the last two weeks | 0–3 |
| Total | Sum of the two selected response values | 0–6 |
| Threshold 3 | A screening cut point that may prompt fuller assessment | Not a diagnosis |
Suppose “little interest or pleasure” occurred more than half the days, scoring 2, and “feeling down, depressed or hopeless” occurred several days, scoring 1.
PHQ-2 total = 2 + 1 = 3
The page reports that the score is 3 or higher and that follow-up assessment may be appropriate. It does not determine a disorder, severity category or treatment. A different example—0 for the first item and 1 for the second—totals 1 and is reported as below 3. A low score cannot address concerns outside these two questions or replace discussion of persistent distress and impaired functioning.
The total describes only how the two selected frequencies were scored. A result of 3–6 meets this page’s follow-up threshold; a result of 0–2 is below it. Neither output confirms nor rules out a depressive disorder.
Screening performance varies by population and setting, and clinical decisions require more information. A clinician may use a longer questionnaire and ask about duration, impairment, medical conditions, substances, grief, anxiety, mania and other relevant factors.
If you are completing the form for someone else, use their answers rather than guessing from appearance. If distress, safety concerns or significant changes in functioning are present, seek prompt help from an appropriate local healthcare service regardless of the numeric result.
The two items were designed for brevity, so they do not ask about every symptom or cause of a change in mood. Physical illness, medication effects, sleep disruption and major life events can matter to an assessment. Language, reading of the response options and the setting in which the questions are asked can also affect answers.
Repeat scores can be useful only when the same questionnaire, timeframe and response method are used consistently. A numeric change should be discussed in context rather than assumed to show improvement or deterioration on its own. The page does not store a history or evaluate change over time.
Choose the response that best fits the whole reference period.
No. Three is a screening threshold, not a diagnosis. A qualified professional needs broader information and an appropriate assessment.
Answer based on how often each problem bothered you over the last two weeks, using the four response frequencies shown.
No. PHQ-2 uses the first two symptom-frequency items and totals 0–6. PHQ-9 has nine items and a different score range and interpretation.
No. It reflects only two questions. Persistent distress, impaired functioning or safety concerns deserve appropriate attention regardless of this result.
No. The calculator does not provide treatment guidance. Any care decision requires an individualized evaluation by an appropriate healthcare professional.
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