The PHQ-9 is used to screen for and monitor the severity of which condition?

• A. Depression
• B. Anxiety
• C. Bipolar disorder
• D. Substance use

Answer: (A)

The PHQ-9 is a brief self-report instrument designed to screen for and monitor the severity of depression. It asks about nine core symptoms that align with DSM criteria for major depressive disorder, such as diminished interest or pleasure, persistent sadness, sleep and energy changes, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, psychomotor changes, and thoughts of death or suicide, all evaluated over the past two weeks. Each item is scored 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 27, which helps determine whether depression is likely and how severe it is, as well as how it responds to treatment over time. It’s specifically used for depression, whereas other conditions use different tools: anxiety is often screened with instruments like the GAD-7, bipolar disorder with mood-specific assessments, and substance use with screening tools tailored to substances.