Free self-tests · 1 min · 4 questions
PHQ-4: a four-question check on anxiety and low mood
The PHQ-4 is four questions long. Two ask about anxiety (the GAD-2) and two ask about low mood and loss of interest (the PHQ-2). Doctors and researchers use it as a quick first check on how the last two weeks have felt.
It is a screening questionnaire, so it can only point to whether something might deserve a closer look. It cannot diagnose anxiety or depression.
Your answers stay on your device. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
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Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by 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-4 is deliberately short. That makes it easy to answer on a difficult day, and it also means it misses a lot. It only asks about four feelings, and only about the last two weeks. A low score doesn't mean everything is fine, and a high score doesn't mean you have a disorder.
If either part came out at 3 or more, or your total was moderate or higher, please speak to a GP or another qualified health professional. If you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last year, your midwife or health visitor is also a good person to tell. You can show them this result if it makes the first sentence easier.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please don't wait. Call 999 in the UK or 112 in Europe, Samaritans on 116 123, or find a free line in your country on the helplines page.
Counselling can sit alongside medical support. I am a trainee person-centred counsellor working under supervision, so I don't diagnose or treat depression or anxiety disorders. I offer an unhurried space to talk. You can read about anxiety and worry, feeling stuck or online counselling for women.
How the PHQ-4), combining the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 score works
4 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 |
|---|---|
| None to minimal | 0 to 2 |
| Mild | 3 to 5 |
| Moderate | 6 to 8 |
| Severe | 9 to 12 |
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Below the screening point | 0 to 2 |
| At or above the screening point | 3 to 6 |
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Below the screening point | 0 to 2 |
| At or above the screening point | 3 to 6 |
About this questionnaire
Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), combining the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 by Kurt Kroenke, Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B. W. Williams and Bernd Löwe (2009).
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2009). An ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression: The PHQ-4. Psychosomatics, 50(6), 613–621. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.50.6.613
Used in line with the published terms of use.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between the PHQ-4, PHQ-2 and GAD-2?
The PHQ-2 is the first two questions of the PHQ-9 depression questionnaire, and the GAD-2 is the first two questions of the GAD-7 anxiety questionnaire. The PHQ-4 simply puts the four together. Each pair is scored from 0 to 6, and the total runs from 0 to 12.
What does a score of 3 on a PHQ-4 subscale mean?
The authors suggest that 3 or more on either pair of questions is worth following up. It is not a diagnosis. It means a longer questionnaire, such as the PHQ-9 or GAD-7, or a conversation with a GP or qualified professional, would give a clearer picture.
Is the PHQ-4 accurate?
It was tested in large groups of adults and works well as a quick first check. Because it only has four questions, it is less precise than longer measures, and it can't take your history or circumstances into account. Treat it as a prompt to pay attention, not a verdict.
Are my answers private?
Yes. The questionnaire is scored in your browser. Nothing is saved, sent to me or shared with anyone, and refreshing the page clears it. If you want to keep your result for a GP appointment, take a screenshot.