What counts as depression?

Clinical depression (Major Depressive Disorder) requires persistent low mood OR loss of interest / pleasure most of the day, most days, for at least 2 weeks, PLUS at least 4 additional symptoms from a defined list (sleep disturbance, appetite change, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death or self-harm), AND clinically significant distress OR impairment in work / social / other areas. Feeling down for a few days doesn't meet criteria; feeling flat for 3 weeks with impact on sleep, appetite, and energy usually does. The PHQ-9 is designed to systematically screen this pattern.

What score means "I''m depressed"?

PHQ-9 severity bands: 0-4 minimal depression (typical), 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression, 15-19 moderately severe depression, 20-27 severe depression. A score of 10 or higher indicates clinically significant depression warranting evaluation. Important: any positive response on Question 9 (self-harm) requires same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. A score of 8 with a positive Question 9 is more urgent than a score of 18 without.

What if my score is high but I don''t feel that bad?

Common — and worth taking seriously. Two things happen frequently: (1) People adapted to living with depression for a long time normalise the pattern and don't recognise it as illness — "this is just how I am." (2) The past 2 weeks may include a low patch after a period of relative stability, inflating the score. If your PHQ-9 is high but you feel functional: retake in 2 weeks to see if the pattern holds. If it does, clinical evaluation is worth pursuing even if the pattern feels normal.

What if my score is low but I feel depressed?

Also worth taking seriously. Two things happen: (1) The PHQ-9 covers the past 2 weeks; a recent lift might mask a longer-standing pattern. (2) Some depression subtypes (atypical depression, dysthymia / persistent depressive disorder) may score lower on PHQ-9 than they present clinically. If you feel depressed but score low, clinical evaluation is still useful. Also take the [DASS-21](/assessments/dass-21) which measures depression + anxiety + stress together.

No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool — a systematic way to identify people whose symptom pattern warrants clinical evaluation. Formal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder requires clinical interview, ruling out medical causes (thyroid dysfunction, Vitamin D deficiency, medication side effects, substance use), assessing duration and impairment, and considering differential diagnoses (adjustment disorder, bipolar depression, PTSD). A qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist makes the diagnosis.

What should I do with a moderate or higher score?

Book a clinical evaluation with a Mindtalk psychiatrist or clinical psychologist within 2-4 weeks. Bring your PHQ-9 result — it shortens the intake. In the meantime: (1) Continue functional routines even when motivation is low (behavioural activation is first-line evidence-based); (2) Prioritise sleep; (3) Reduce alcohol and substance use; (4) Tell one trusted person; (5) If Question 9 is positive, contact a crisis line or GP the same day.

How do I take the depression self-check?

Click "Take the PHQ-9". Complete the 9 items (2-3 minutes), receive your score + severity band + next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.

Assessments

Am I Depressed? — Free 3-Minute Depression Self-Check (PHQ-9)

A quick 3-minute self-check for depression using the PHQ-9 — the global clinical standard. Instant score, severity band, and next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.

Important safety information

The PHQ-9 includes a question about thoughts of self-harm (question 9). If you have had any such thoughts recently, please reach out for support before or instead of taking this assessment — you do not need to take a test to deserve help.

iCall India: 9152987821
Vandrevala Foundation: 1860 2662 345
AASRA: +91 98204 66726
Cadabams 24/7: +91 97414 76476

All lines listed are free and confidential.

Take the PHQ-9 (3 min)See related assessments

What "am I depressed?" actually asks

Feeling low for a few days is not depression. Clinical depression is a specific pattern:

Persistent low mood OR loss of interest / pleasure most of the day, most days
Duration of at least 2 weeks
Plus 4 or more additional symptoms — sleep disturbance, appetite change, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, psychomotor changes, thoughts of death or self-harm
Causes clinically significant distress OR impairment in work / social / daily areas

The PHQ-9 was designed by Kurt Kroenke, Robert Spitzer, and Janet Williams to systematically screen this pattern. Each of its 9 items maps to one of the DSM-5 depression criteria. It takes 3 minutes and produces a clear severity band.

PHQ-9 severity bands

Score	Severity	Typical action
0-4	Minimal	No action needed; recheck if symptoms develop
5-9	Mild	Self-help, watchful waiting; therapy if symptoms persist
10-14	Moderate	Clinical evaluation recommended; therapy and/or medication often indicated
15-19	Moderately severe	Clinical evaluation; combination therapy + medication often indicated
20-27	Severe	Urgent clinical evaluation; intensive treatment usually required

Special rule: any response other than "Not at all" on Question 9 (self-harm) requires same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. A score of 8 with a positive Question 9 is more urgent than a score of 18 without.

When "am I depressed?" is worth clinical evaluation

PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher
Symptoms present for 2 weeks or more with impact on daily function
Loss of pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Sleep disturbance — early waking, difficulty falling asleep, sleeping too much
Appetite / weight change — significant loss or gain not explained by intentional dieting
Fatigue disproportionate to activity
Concentration difficulties at work / studies
Thoughts of death or self-harm — any level

Medical causes worth ruling out

Depression symptoms overlap with medical conditions. A responsible clinician will screen for:

Thyroid dysfunction — under-active thyroid presents almost identically to depression
Vitamin D deficiency — very common in urban India, causes fatigue + low mood
Iron deficiency — common in women; presents as exhaustion + depressed mood
Vitamin B12 deficiency — presents as fatigue + concentration difficulty
Medication side effects — some blood pressure, hormonal, and steroid medications can trigger depression
Substance use — alcohol depresses mood in ways that mimic depression
Sleep apnoea — untreated sleep apnoea produces persistent low mood + fatigue

Blood work and a proper history usually take 20 minutes at a GP visit and clarify whether the underlying picture is psychological, medical, or both.

Treatments backed by evidence

For mild depression (PHQ-9 5-9): Behavioural activation, structured exercise, sleep hygiene, and social connection. Self-help CBT and structured programmes like the 90-day Emotional Reset are well-suited. Retake PHQ-9 in 2-4 weeks.

For moderate depression (PHQ-9 10-14): CBT is first-line therapy; SSRIs may be added. The 90-day Emotional Reset programme or Anxiety Loop Breaker (if anxiety is co-occurring) is calibrated for this severity range.

For moderately severe / severe depression (PHQ-9 15+): Combination CBT + antidepressant (SSRI or SNRI) usually indicated. Consider psychiatric referral. Full clinical evaluation matters — treatment planning depends on subtype, comorbidities, and history.

For suicide risk (Question 9 positive): Same-day contact with a crisis line, GP, or psychiatric emergency service. In India: iCall (9152987821), Vandrevala Foundation (1860 2662 345), NIMHANS Helpline (080-46110007), or hospital emergency department. You are not alone; support is available.

After the depression self-check

Retake in 2 weeks if the score is borderline. A single PHQ-9 catches the past 2 weeks; the pattern is what matters.
Screen anxiety. Depression and anxiety co-occur in ~60% of cases. Take GAD-7 alongside.
Screen bipolar spectrum if depression is recurrent or antidepressants haven't worked. Take MDQ.
Screen trauma. Trauma-related depression is under-recognised. Take ITQ.
Book a specialist. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists treat depression across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India. Bring your PHQ-9 result to the first consult.

How to take the PHQ-9

1
Open the depression self-check in the Mindtalk app
Tap "Take the PHQ-9" to open the assessment. You will need a free Mindtalk account — sign-in takes under a minute.
2
Answer the 9 items about the past 2 weeks
For each of the 9 items, choose how often you have been bothered by the symptom over the past 2 weeks. Take your time on Question 9, which asks about thoughts of self-harm.
3
Get your score, severity band, and next-step recommendation
Receive a total 0-27 score, severity band (minimal / mild / moderate / moderately severe / severe), and a personalised next-step recommendation. If you flag Question 9, the app surfaces same-day crisis support resources.

Take the PHQ-9 (3 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as depression?: Clinical depression (Major Depressive Disorder) requires persistent low mood OR loss of interest / pleasure most of the day, most days, for at least 2 weeks, PLUS at least 4 additional symptoms from a defined list (sleep disturbance, appetite change, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death or self-harm), AND clinically significant distress OR impairment in work / social / other areas. Feeling down for a few days doesn't meet criteria; feeling flat for 3 weeks with impact on sleep, appetite, and energy usually does. The PHQ-9 is designed to systematically screen this pattern.
What score means "I''m depressed"?: PHQ-9 severity bands: 0-4 minimal depression (typical), 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression, 15-19 moderately severe depression, 20-27 severe depression. A score of 10 or higher indicates clinically significant depression warranting evaluation. Important: any positive response on Question 9 (self-harm) requires same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. A score of 8 with a positive Question 9 is more urgent than a score of 18 without.
What if my score is high but I don''t feel that bad?: Common — and worth taking seriously. Two things happen frequently: (1) People adapted to living with depression for a long time normalise the pattern and don't recognise it as illness — "this is just how I am." (2) The past 2 weeks may include a low patch after a period of relative stability, inflating the score. If your PHQ-9 is high but you feel functional: retake in 2 weeks to see if the pattern holds. If it does, clinical evaluation is worth pursuing even if the pattern feels normal.
What if my score is low but I feel depressed?: Also worth taking seriously. Two things happen: (1) The PHQ-9 covers the past 2 weeks; a recent lift might mask a longer-standing pattern. (2) Some depression subtypes (atypical depression, dysthymia / persistent depressive disorder) may score lower on PHQ-9 than they present clinically. If you feel depressed but score low, clinical evaluation is still useful. Also take the [DASS-21](/assessments/dass-21) which measures depression + anxiety + stress together.
Is this a diagnosis?: No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool — a systematic way to identify people whose symptom pattern warrants clinical evaluation. Formal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder requires clinical interview, ruling out medical causes (thyroid dysfunction, Vitamin D deficiency, medication side effects, substance use), assessing duration and impairment, and considering differential diagnoses (adjustment disorder, bipolar depression, PTSD). A qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist makes the diagnosis.
What should I do with a moderate or higher score?: Book a clinical evaluation with a Mindtalk psychiatrist or clinical psychologist within 2-4 weeks. Bring your PHQ-9 result — it shortens the intake. In the meantime: (1) Continue functional routines even when motivation is low (behavioural activation is first-line evidence-based); (2) Prioritise sleep; (3) Reduce alcohol and substance use; (4) Tell one trusted person; (5) If Question 9 is positive, contact a crisis line or GP the same day.
How do I take the depression self-check?: Click "Take the PHQ-9". Complete the 9 items (2-3 minutes), receive your score + severity band + next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.

Need a clinician's read on your results?

A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.

Book a consultation See our specialists