Free self-tests · 3 min · 15 questions
PHQ-15: how much are physical symptoms bothering you?
Stress and low mood often show up in the body first: headaches, a tight chest, a stomach that won't settle, sleep that doesn't restore you. The PHQ-15 asks how much 15 common physical symptoms have bothered you over the past four weeks.
It measures how heavy the load of symptoms is. It cannot say what is causing them, and it is no substitute for a medical check. Many of these symptoms have physical causes that a doctor should look at.
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During the past 4 weeks, how much have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Your results
This is a self-report questionnaire, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can assess you properly.
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The PDF is created on your device. Your saved answers stay in this browser until you start again or clear them.
The PHQ-15 adds up how much you have been bothered by symptoms. It cannot tell the difference between a symptom caused by stress and one caused by an illness, and it was never meant to. Chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath or a pounding heart can be signs of something that needs urgent medical care. If any of these are sudden or severe, call 999 in the UK or 112 in Europe.
If your score was medium or high, please see a GP or another qualified health professional. Taking this list with you can make the appointment easier, especially if you tend to forget half of what you meant to say.
Many people find that their body carries what they haven't had room to feel, especially during long stretches of pressure, caring for others or settling into a new country. Counselling can be one place to make room for that, alongside medical care rather than instead of it. I am a trainee person-centred counsellor and I don't diagnose or treat physical conditions. You can read about anxiety, expat loneliness or online counselling for women, and find free support on the helplines page.
How the PHQ-15 score works
15 questions, scored by adding up your answers. These are the score ranges this page uses to describe your result. Where the questionnaire's authors publish official cut-offs, the ranges follow them; the sources are listed below.
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Minimal | 0 to 4 |
| Low | 5 to 9 |
| Medium | 10 to 14 |
| High | 15 to 30 |
About this questionnaire
Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) by Kurt Kroenke, Robert L. Spitzer and Janet B. W. Williams (2002).
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2002). The PHQ-15: Validity of a new measure for evaluating the severity of somatic symptoms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64(2), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200203000-00008
Used in line with the published terms of use.
Questions people ask
What does the PHQ-15 measure?
It measures how much 15 common physical symptoms, such as pain, dizziness, tiredness and poor sleep, have bothered you over four weeks. Scores of 5, 10 and 15 mark the starting points for low, medium and high symptom severity. It does not identify the cause of any symptom.
What if the period question doesn't apply to me?
The menstrual question is meant for women who have periods. If it doesn't apply to you, choose 'Not bothered at all'. The authors score men on the other 14 questions, so leaving it at zero keeps your total comparable.
Can stress really cause physical symptoms?
Stress and low mood are closely linked to symptoms like headaches, stomach trouble, tiredness and poor sleep. That doesn't mean your symptoms are 'all in your head'. Physical causes always need to be checked first, and a GP is the right person to do that.
Are my answers private?
Yes. The questionnaire runs in your browser and nothing is saved or sent. Refreshing or closing the page clears your answers. A screenshot is a simple way to keep the result for a doctor's appointment.