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PHQ-2 Depression Screening Calculator

Health

Score the 2-question PHQ-2 depression screening questionnaire instantly, based on the validated Patient Health Questionnaire, not a diagnosis.

Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 20, 2026

PHQ-2 Total Score

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This calculator computes your PHQ-2 Total Score from the values you enter.

Inputs
Little interest or pleasure in doing thingsFeeling down, depressed, or hopeless
Outputs
PHQ-2 Total Score

What is a PHQ-2 Score?

The PHQ-2 Depression Screening Calculator scores the two-question Patient Health Questionnaire, a brief, widely used self-report screening tool that asks about the frequency of low interest/pleasure and low mood over the past two weeks. It's designed as a quick first-pass check, not a diagnostic tool.

This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If you're experiencing persistent low mood, please talk to a doctor, counselor, or mental health professional. For a broader self-reflection check, see the Happiness Calculator.

Why Use a PHQ-2 Calculator?

The PHQ-2 is one of the most widely referenced brief mental health screening tools, and this calculator lets you score it instantly and privately, entirely in your browser, without submitting any personal information anywhere. It's a quick way to structure a self-check-in using a format many healthcare providers also use.

Who Should Use This Calculator?

  • Anyone doing a private self-check-in on their recent mood using a standard, widely referenced format.
  • Students of psychology or healthcare learning about brief screening instruments.
  • People preparing for a doctor's visit who want a quick, structured way to describe recent symptoms.
  • Healthcare educators demonstrating how brief screening tools are scored.

What Insights Does the PHQ-2 Calculator Give You?

The PHQ-2 Total Score (0-6) is the sole output, reflecting the sum of your two answers about how often you've felt low interest/pleasure and low mood over the past two weeks. Higher totals indicate more frequent symptoms; this calculator does not label the score with a clinical interpretation, any concerns about your score should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

How to use this PHQ-2 Score calculator

  1. Answer how often you've had little interest or pleasure in doing things over the past two weeks.
  2. Answer how often you've been feeling down, depressed, or hopeless over the past two weeks.
  3. Read your PHQ-2 Total Score instantly.
  4. Use the result as a prompt for reflection or as a conversation starter with a healthcare professional, not as a standalone diagnosis.
Show formula & methodology ↓Show less ↑

Formula & Methodology

Each question is scored on a 0-3 frequency scale: Not at all (0), Several days (1), More than half the days (2), Nearly every day (3).

Total Score = Interest/Pleasure score + Feeling Down score (range: 0-6)

Worked example, "Several days" (1) for interest/pleasure and "More than half the days" (2) for feeling down:

Total Score = 1 + 2 = 3

This total sits at a commonly referenced threshold some clinicians use as a prompt for further conversation, but interpretation should always come from a healthcare professional, not this calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PHQ-2?
The PHQ-2 (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) is a widely used 2-question screening tool that asks about the frequency of low interest/pleasure and feeling down over the past two weeks. It's a shortened version of the longer PHQ-9 questionnaire, designed as a quick first-pass screening check.
Is the PHQ-2 a diagnosis of depression?
The PHQ-2 is a screening tool only, not a diagnostic instrument. A higher score suggests it may be worth discussing your mood with a healthcare professional, but only a qualified clinician can make an actual diagnosis.
How is the PHQ-2 score calculated?
Each of the two questions is scored from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day) based on how often you've experienced that symptom over the past two weeks, and the two scores are added together for a total ranging from 0 to 6.
What does a PHQ-2 score mean?
Higher scores indicate more frequent symptoms of low mood or reduced interest over the past two weeks; a commonly referenced score of 3 or higher is often used as a threshold suggesting further evaluation may be worthwhile, though this calculator does not provide a clinical interpretation, discuss any score with a healthcare professional if you have concerns.
What is the difference between the PHQ-2 and the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-2 uses only the first two questions of the full PHQ-9 questionnaire as a quick screening check; the PHQ-9 includes seven additional questions covering a broader range of depression symptoms and is used for more detailed assessment when a screening result suggests it's warranted.
How often should I take the PHQ-2?
There's no fixed schedule, some people use it as an occasional self-check, while in clinical settings it's sometimes used at each visit as a quick screening step, with follow-up assessment done by a healthcare professional when needed.
Is my PHQ-2 answer data stored anywhere?
No, this calculator runs entirely in your browser and does not transmit, store, or share your answers anywhere.
What should I do if I score high on the PHQ-2?
Consider speaking with a doctor, counselor, or mental health professional about how you've been feeling, the PHQ-2 is designed to prompt that conversation, not to replace it, and professional support is available for anyone experiencing persistent low mood.
Can the PHQ-2 be used for anxiety instead of depression?
No, the PHQ-2 specifically screens for depressive symptoms (low interest/pleasure and low mood); anxiety-focused screening uses different validated tools such as the GAD-7.
Who developed the PHQ-2?
The PHQ-2, like the longer PHQ-9, was developed as part of the Patient Health Questionnaire family of tools used widely in primary care and research settings to screen for depressive symptoms using patients' own self-reports.
Also known as
PHQ-2 score calculatordepression screening calculatorpatient health questionnaire 2PHQ-2 test